Weaver trainees look to be class of co-feature
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OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Soontobeking won the Gander Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds two weeks ago. His trainer, George Weaver, hopes he’s not the only statebred sophomore stakes winner in the barn.
Sunday, Weaver sends out the uncoupled entry of Super Swift and Vekinda in a first-level allowance/optional $80,000 claiming race for 3-year-old New York-breds at Aqueduct. The 6 1/2-furlong race could be used as a step toward a stakes opportunity in the future.
The $76,000 allowance is the co-feature, along with a $76,000 first-level allowance for New York-bred older females going a mile on a nine-race program.
Super Swift and Vekinda debuted in the same race last September, with Super Swift winning and Vekinda finishing third. After a couple of turf tries, Super Swift returned to dirt and was twice narrowly beaten in this condition, first losing by a nose to Soontobeking and then by a neck to Prince Valiant, who also beat Vekinda by a neck in a maiden race in January.
Both Super Swift and Vekinda are progeny of Vekoma. Super Swift is owned and bred by Randy Hill. Weaver is the owner and breeder of Vekinda.
“Super Swift was better than Vekinda in that maiden race and I’m assuming Super Swift will be better than Vekinda this time,” Weaver said.
After finishing third to Super Swift, Vekinda ran second in four consecutive maiden races before finally breaking through with his first victory, a three-quarter-length success on March 1. Weaver said he would like to see Super Swift stalk someone rather than be the pace.
Scheduling Dude, the only member of this field entered for the claiming tag, could be the pacesetter under Kendrick Carmouche. Scheduling Dude was a 4 1/4-length, front-running winner of this condition on Dec. 15 before being pulled up in the Spectacular Bid Stakes at Laurel Park on Jan. 25. In the Spectacular Bid, Scheduling Dude flashed good speed for the opening quarter before retreating through the field and eventually getting pulled up by Mychel Sanchez.
The horse, trained by Rick Dutrow, was right back on the work tab two weeks later and shows six works leading to his return.
Just Clarity, Celtic Prince, and Buttah complete the field.
Duggan loves outside draw
In race 8, Walk With Me makes her second start off an eight-month layoff following surgery to remove an ankle chip, according to trainer David Duggan.
In her first start back, Walk With Me finished third in this first-level restricted condition behind La Banquera and Ariana Rye, both of whom came back to win their next starts. Duggan was pleased enough with his filly’s effort and likes stretching her out from six furlongs to one mile.
“She’s not a sprinter,” Duggan said. “This, to me, finds out where you stand in the pecking order. I think it’s a good stepping-stone. You’re stronger, you’re fitter, you’re getting the right distance, and you’re in the right allowance. I think it’s my race to lose.”
Duggan loves the outside draw in this seven-horse field for Walk With Me, who will be ridden by Romero Maragh.
Embraceable Gal stretches out to a mile off a closing third, beaten a half-length, going 6 1/2 furlongs in this condition on March 1.
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