Vekoma's path to Breeders' Cup up in the air
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Multiple Grade 1 winner Vekoma worked three furlongs in 37.08 seconds on Monday morning over the Oklahoma training track as he begins preparations for a yet-to-be determined fall campaign.
The move was Vekoma’s first since he won the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap on July 4 at Belmont Park. Vekoma missed some training time and a planned start in the Grade 1 Forego here Aug. 29 due to a foot injury.
While pleased to have Vekoma back on the work tab, trainer George Weaver said there is no decision yet on where Vekoma would return to the races. While the Grade 2, $150,000 Vosburgh on Sept. 26 at Belmont had been mentioned, Weaver said Monday that race might come up too soon.
“I’m not ruling out the Vosburgh,” Weaver said. “It seems a little tight to me to make that day. Since he is coming off a layoff again, it might not be beneficial for him to have a grueling or a big effort too close to the Breeders’ Cup. That will be in our thinking before we decide what to do with him.”
There also is the decision on which Breeders’ Cup race is the best fit for Vekoma – the Sprint at six furlongs or the Dirt Mile. He has not run six furlongs, the distance of the Sprint, since his maiden victory in 2018. The Dirt Mile is a two-turn race, and Vekoma did win the Grade 2 Blue Grass around two turns at Keeneland as a 3-year-old. Vekoma has earned automatic berths into both the Sprint and Dirt Mile by virtue of his victories this year in the Grade 1 Carter and Met Mile.
Other options for Vekoma could be the Grade 2, $150,000 Kelso, a one-turn mile on Oct. 3 at Belmont, or the Grade 2, $200,000 Phoenix, a six-furlong race on Oct. 2 at Keeneland.
Weaver said he could even train up to the Breeders’ Cup.
“We don’t feel like we have to have a prep,” Weaver said. “So we’re going to let the horse tell us what to do.”