Weaver gives slight lean to Breeders' Cup Sprint for Vekoma

ELMONT, N.Y. – Vekoma, unraced since winning the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap on July 4, worked five furlongs in 1:02.65 on Friday morning at Saratoga as he continues preparations for a start in the Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 7 at Keeneland.

While it has not yet been determined which Breeders’ Cup race Vekoma will run in, trainer George Weaver seems to be favoring the $2 million Sprint at six furlongs over the $1 million Dirt Mile, which at Keeneland is a two-turn race. He will most likely be pre-entered for both races.

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Vekoma, who this year also won the Grade 1 Carter at Belmont going seven furlongs, is undefeated (5 for 5) in races contested around one turn. He won his career debut going six furlongs.

“I don’t think running six furlongs is a disadvantage for him; I think he can handle it fine,” Weaver said. “We’re still thinking about both races, but if you had to pin me down today, for myself, I think I prefer running him in the Sprint.”

Weaver did note that Vekoma’s biggest win around two turns came in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland last year.

Vekoma is 3 for 3 this year, having also won the Sir Shackleton Stakes, a seven-furlong race at Gulfstream in March before his back-to-back scores in the Carter and Met Mile. He missed a scheduled start in the Grade 1 Forego on Aug. 29 at Saratoga owing to a foot issue that kept him off the work tab for more than a month.

“He’s doing well physically now,” Weaver said. “We’ve got his feet, knock on wood, sorted out and doing well at the moment.”