B. Wayne Hughes's Spendthrift Farm has acquired the breeding rights to multiple Grade I-winning millionaire Vekoma (Candy Ride {Arg}–Mona de Momma, by Speightstown). The chestnut captured the prestigious GI Runhappy Metropolitan H. Saturday, four weeks after dominating the GI Runhappy Carter H.
“We are extremely excited about Vekoma and his future as a stallion. It's not often you see an elite racehorse that is by a Grade I winner and out of a Grade I winner,” said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift general manager. “Vekoma is a terrific blend of his sire Candy Ride and his Speightstown dam Mona de Momma, showing brilliance from six furlongs to a mile and an eighth and from ages two to four. There's sire power throughout the pedigree, with Vekoma's second dam being a sister to Mr. Greeley. You just will not find a better-bred son of Candy Ride. Vekoma proved he is one of the best horses in training with wins over good fields in the Carter and Met Mile, which have been two of the best performances we have seen this year. The combination of brilliance and pedigree is special.”
Trained by George Weaver for owners R. A. Hill Stable and Gatsas Stables, Vekoma annexed graded stakes wins at two, three and four. After breaking his maiden at first asking, he scored in the GIII Nashua S. and added a victory in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland at three.
“Vekoma has been an outstanding talent since the moment we got him. He's such a special horse,” said Weaver. “We will take our time to enjoy this win, but Saratoga is the likely next place for him to run. We would like to put the horse in a position to become a champion.”
An earner of $1,245,525 to date, Vekoma was bred in Kentucky by Alpha Delta Stables. He is out of the Speightstown mare Mona de Momma who scored her biggest win as a racehorse in the GI Humana Distaff H. on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill.
Vekoma is the third Met Mile winner in the last four years that will take up stud duty at Spendthrift. Mor Spirit (Eskendereya), the 2017 winner, and Mitole (Eskendereya), the 2019 winner, both stand at the historic Lexington-based farm.
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