Vekoma has leisurely first work back

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – Blue Grass winner Vekoma got back to work Thursday shortly after dawn on a balmy morning at Palm Beach Downs, breezing an easy four furlongs in 50.20 seconds over a near-deserted racetrack with his regular exercise rider Cindy Weaver aboard. Vekoma went in company with regular workmate Majestic Dunhill.

Trainer George Weaver – Cindy’s husband – pushed Vekoma’s work up one day with rain in the forecast for the local area on Friday. Vekoma will have his final Kentucky Derby work here next Friday, with jockey Javier Castellano to be in town for the assignment. Vekoma will fly to Louisville with as many as four other potential Derby candidates on April 30.

“I thought he worked well,” said George Weaver. “I wasn’t looking to let the horse run at all today. He galloped out fine. Just kind of maintenance now. Javier will come down here and let him run a little bit next time, maybe go in a minute and gallop out strong. The main thing is he came out of the Blue Grass well, he’s happy and sound, and seems to have gotten a little confidence in himself coming off a win like that.”

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Weaver sees this year’s Derby as a wide-open race, with Vekoma among the leading candidates off his 3 1/2-length victory over Win Win Win in the Grade 2 Blue Grass.

“It will be interesting to see how all these colts stack up against each other,” said Weaver. “I don’t think anybody really towers over anyone. There’s not a big separation on the sheets over at least the top eight or nine horses. Obviously a mile and one-quarter is a big factor. I really can’t say how my horse will handle the distance. But I said that about a mile and one-eighth before the Blue Grass and he went out and won with authority.”

Weaver said he is glad he made the decision to bring Vekoma back to his winter base at Palm Beach Downs immediately after the Blue Grass to put in his final major preparations for the Derby.

“Cindy’s been getting on him down here, and he’s used to this racetrack, and you never know what kind of weather you’re going to get up in Kentucky,” said Weaver. “It’s going to rain again this weekend with the high around 48 there Saturday. Weather can be a factor down here, too, but right now the forecast looks good going into Friday when I want to work him. I’m of the opinion you either get up there three weeks out and really try to get acclimated, or come in off the plane. You have to pick a plan and this is the plan we picked.”

Florida Derby runner-up Bodexpress still needs one defection to draw into the Derby lineup, but his connections are moving forward as if he will run. On Thursday, Bodexpress worked four furlongs in 48.60 at Gulfstream Park West with exercise rider J.J. Delgado aboard.

“He did it easily and galloped out strong,” said Gustavo Delgado Jr., son of trainer Gustavo Delgado. “Right now we’re going ahead and doing everything as if he’ll be in the Derby field. He will work one more time here next Thursday and fly to Louisville on the following Tuesday. If he doesn’t draw in, we’ll keep him at Churchill Downs and train him for the Preakness.”