Vekoma to skip Remsen, rest up for 2019

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Vekoma, the 1 3/4-length winner of the Grade 3 Nashua Stakes at Aqueduct on Nov. 4, will skip next Saturday’s Grade 2 Remsen Stakes here and point to a 3-year-old campaign, trainer George Weaver confirmed Friday.

Weaver noted that Vekoma was a May 22 foal and that he “still has some maturing to do.” The horse has been based at Palm Beach Downs in South Florida since shortly after the Nashua and is in the middle of a 30-day break.

“We want to be in a position to participate in the [Kentucky] Derby if he’s good enough,” said Weaver, who trains Vekoma for Raymond Hill and Gatsas Stable. “Coming back in 27 days at this young of an age we didn’t think was the right plan.”

Weaver said Vekoma has alternated tack-walking and jogging and will pick up serious training again in early to mid-December, with a start in late January a possibility.

“We don’t have any particular race in mind,” he said. “We’ll let the horse tell us what to do.”

The Remsen is likely to attract a small field, led by Champagne runner-up Code of Honor and the unbeaten Parx-based colt Maximus Mischief.

Mind Control, the Grade 1 Hopeful winner, is nominated to the Remsen and is now training at Belmont Park. Rick Sacco, the racing manager for the colt’s owner, the Brunetti family’s Red Oak Stable, said the plan for now is to go to the Springboard Mile at Remington Park on Dec. 16, but he is monitoring the Remsen’s field size.

On Nov. 19, Mind Control worked a half-mile in 48.55 seconds over Belmont’s main track. Greg Sacco, the trainer of Mind Control, has 10 horses based at Belmont.

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