Vekoma has pedigree to join Met Mile-winning top sires

The Metropolitan Handicap has a history of being a stallion-making race because it showcases the brilliance that is so desired in the American market. Vekoma remained unbeaten in his 4-year-old season with a victory Saturday in the Grade 1 Runhappy Metropolitan at Belmont Park, and with a pedigree that sports several successful sires, he has solid credentials to become a top sire himself. The Metropolitan marked the fourth graded stakes score for millionaire Vekoma, who won the Grade 2 Nashua Stakes as a juvenile, the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes last year, and the Grade 1 Runhappy Carter Handicap last month. The colt is a son of Candy Ride, who is represented by 16 sons at stud, including his 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner, whose first foals have been well received commercially, and the consistent and versatile sire Twirling Candy.

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Vekoma is out of the Grade 1-winning Speightstown mare Mona de Momma. Her dam, Society Gal, is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner and sire Mr. Greeley. His best runners included European champion Finsceal Beo, English 1000 Guineas winner Saoirse Abu, Grade 1 winner and sire El Corredor, and Grade 1/Group 1 winners Aruna, Celtic Melody, Crusade, Miss Kournikova, Nonsuch Bay, Reel Buddy, Sweet Lulu, Western Aristocrat, and Whywhywhy.

Society Gal and Mr. Greeley’s half-siblings include Majestic Legend, whose winning daughter Bedazzle produced Kentucky Derby winner and Eclipse Award champion juvenile Street Sense. Street Sense, whose first foals hit the racetrack in 2011, is already the sire of 73 stakes winners in less than a decade, led by Grade 1/Group 1 winners Aubby K, Callback, Dixie Blossoms, Fleet Street, Maxfield, McKinzie, Politeness, Sense of Occasion, Street Fancy, Sweet Reason, and Wedding Toast.

Vekoma also is from the extended female family of international sire Danehill Dancer, a Group 1 winner in Ireland where he was a leading sire and broodmare sire. Danehill Dancer also was a leading sire in Hong Kong. Danehill Dancer’s several Grade 1/Group 1 winners included European champion and classic winner Mastercraftsman, Australian champions Choisir and Private Steer, and Canadian champion Callwood Dancer.

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The Met Mile has been won through its 127-year history by prominent stallions such as Tom Fool (1953), Native Dancer (1954), and Buckpasser (1967). A Grade 1 race since the North American graded stakes system began in 1973, it has been won since then by prominent sires Tentam (1973), Cox’s Ridge (1978), Fappiano (1981), and Gulch (1987-88). More recent winners of the race include Ghostzapper (2005), whose Eclipse Award champion Judy the Beauty and Canadian classic winner and champion Shaman Ghost lead his dozen Grade 1 winners. He also is the broodmare sire of Triple Crown winner Justify.

Quality Road won the Met Mile in 2010, and he has risen among the elite sire ranks in North America with the likes of Eclipse champions Abel Tasman and Caledonia Road and Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and Pegasus World Cup winner City of Light among his 11 Grade 1 winners.

Palace Malice (Met Mile winner in 2014) was among the leaders of last year’s strong freshman sire class, with Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Structor leading the way. Blooming later in that freshman class was Honor Code (Met Mile winner in 2015), now the sire of Santa Anita Derby winner Honor A. P. and Belmont Stakes third-place finisher Max Player. Frosted (Met Mile winner in 2016) was the highest-priced incoming stallion of the freshman class of 2020.