In the aftermath of his win in Saturday's GII Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland, R.A. Hill and Gatsas Stables' Vekoma (Candy Ride {Arg}) was out to graze Sunday morning and trainer George Weaver reported that the colt was in good shape. The chestnut punched his ticket to the GI Kentucky Derby with a convincing 3 1/2-length score on Saturday's blockbuster card in Lexington.
“He is well and happy,” Weaver said before making the same assessment of himself and adding, “I had no trouble getting up this morning.”
Vekoma will be the second Derby starter for Louisville native Weaver, following Tencendur (Warrior's Reward), who was 17th in 2015.
“We were excited with [Tencendur] coming into the [Derby] off a second place in the Wood Memorial,” Weaver said. “But they are two different horses. Tencendur was more of a stayer, and this horse has a lot of gears.”
Weaver added that Vekoma will walk for the next three days before the connections formulate a more complete plan to get the colt to Derby day.
Live Oak Plantation's Win Win Win (Hat Trick {Jpn}) closed with a rush and just got up for second in the Blue Grass, narrowly securing enough points for his own spot in the Churchill starting gate. The homebred will return to his home base of Fair Hill Monday.
“That was kind of important, wasn't it,” trainer Mike Trombetta said of his charge securing the Blue Grass runner-up spot. “At the quarter pole, I thought I was going to the Preakness … He got stopped on the turn pretty significantly. He had nice momentum, but that's one of the hazards with a big field. Without that, he probably could have made it more interesting [for the winner], but all in all it is probably the happiest I have ever been with a second.”
Third finisher Signalman (General Quarters) now sits 18th on the Derby points leaderboard with 38 points and will likely be on the bubble to get in after next week's final prep races.
“If he can't make the Derby on points then we will go to the Preakness,” trainer Ken McPeek said. “It is a high-level problem to have.”
Over at Aqueduct, Juddmonte Farms' Tacitus (Tapit) also came out of his big Saturday win, in the GII Wood Memorial, in good order, trainer Bill Mott's assistant Leana Willaford reported.
“He came out of it very well,” said Willaford. “He was a little tired, but that's to be expected. It's nice to see him overcome [an unfavorable trip]. He'll go back to the track here in three days and we'll train him lightly and send him over there when Bill gets to Churchill.”
Wood runner-up Tax (Arch) is also pointing for the Derby after earning 40 points for his 1 1/4-length defeat Saturday to put him squarely in the field for the Run for the Roses.
“Everything was good this morning,” trainer Danny Gargan said. “I thought he ran a tremendous race and can move forward off that effort. His last three races, he's improved tremendously … I think we're set to move forward off this now. The goal all along was the Derby.”
Third finisher Haikal (Daaher) remains on track for the Derby, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin confirmed. “He came out of the race in good shape,” McLaughlin said. “I still have to talk to [Shadwell Farms' Racing Manager] Rick Nichols. I think [we'll point to the Derby], we've been texting back and forth, but I just want to talk to him and make sure. I would assume we're pointing that way. He ran very well, he finished the fastest last quarter and we just needed another furlong.”
In other post-Saturday news:
John Servis reported that champion Jaywalk (Cross Traffic), who ran third at even-money in the GI Central Bank Ashland S., remains on target for the GI Kentucky Oaks. The gray, winner of last fall's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, was previously fourth at 1-5 in the GII Davona Dale S. at Gulfstream.
“She's good this morning,” Servis said. “She got pressured by that horse on the outside [eventual winner Out for a Spin], and Javier [Castellano] said she dug in and fought back. She stayed on pretty good … I told my son Tyler after the race that at least this takes some of the pressure off.”
Imprimis (Broken Vow), winner of the GII Shakertown S. Saturday at Keeneland, is likely to ship overseas to take a shot in the G1 King's Stand S. June 18 at Royal Ascot, trainer Joe Orseno reported.
“We had discussed running this race or the one at Churchill Downs [GII Twin Spires Turf Sprint S.],” Orseno said. “We are passing on the Churchill race as that would only give us 45 days instead of 10 weeks to train up to Royal Ascot, which is kind of perfect for him.”
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