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Vekoma Rides looks for first stakes win in Listed $150K Nashua

by Christian Abdo

Nedlaw Stable, Denholtz Stables, Dennis Drazin, and Jerold Zaro’s Vekoma Rides looks for his first stakes score in Saturday’s Listed $150,000 Nashua, a one-turn mile for juveniles, at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by John Kimmel, Vekoma Rides [post 5, Kendrick Carmouche] will get some class relief after a fifth after exiting post 5-of-9 in the one-mile Grade 1 Champagne on October 5 here. There, the Vekoma chestnut traveled in 7th-of-9 early in the “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and was unable to make up meaningful ground in the event won by Chancer McPatrick.

In his September 14 debut, Vekoma Rides left the outermost post 7 and won a six-furlong sprint by five lengths in a final time of 1:36.51, earning a 77 Beyer Speed Figure in victory

“His first step has always been a little bit slow and when he drew outside that first time it wasn't that big of a deal. When he drew in the middle and he didn't break, the hole closed up fast and then he took kickback,” said Kimmel. “He was a little timid and didn't know what to do.”

Kimmel and Nick Sallusto signed the ticket to purchase Vekoma Rides for $150,000 at the OBS June Sale of 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age. The conditioner said he had his eye on the intriguing prospect for an extended period of time, including when he was a $195,000 RNA at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale.

“He breezed really well at the two breeze shows. I tried to get him at the Maryland Sale and they wanted too much and then they dropped the price and I got him at the June sale,” Kimmel said. “He’s a nice horse.”

Vekoma Rides is out of the Mr. Greeley mare Happy Now, a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire turf specialists Ironicus and On Leave, as well as graded stakes-winners Quiet Harbor and Norumbega.

Eagle Up Stables, London Reid Thoroughbreds and Non Stop Stable's It’s Hammertime [post 4, Jorge Ruiz] is 3-for-3 lifetime for trainer Gary Capuano. The Maryland-bred Vekoma chestnut won the one-mile Rocky Run by 1 1/2 lengths over re-opposing Tony Eclipse last-out on October 9 at Delaware Park.

It’s Hammertime previously won the state-bred First State Dash sprinting six furlongs in September at Delaware Park after an eight-length debut going five furlongs in June. Both the last-out Rocky Run and First State Dash victories earned a field-best 84 Beyer Speed Figure.

It’s Hammertime is out of the Capuano-trained stakes-winning Not For Love mare Steady N Love.

The Elkstone Group’s Maryland homebred Tony Eclipse [post 2, Jevian Toledo] was the aforementioned runner-up of the one-mile Rocky Run on October 9 at Delaware Park. Trained by Brittany Russell, the Not This Time chestnut made that stakes attempt after a 8 3/4-length second-out graduation going the same distance in September at Laurel Park.

Out of the Tapit marae Tapits Faith, Tony Eclipse’s second dam is dual graded stakes-winner Let Faith Arise. He was a $300,000 RNA at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, and went on to debut for Russell and the Elkstone Group when fifth this August in a one-mile turf maiden at Colonial Downs.

Mens Grille Racing’s Grade 3-placed Studlydoright [post 3, Xavier Perez, blinkers ON] adds blinkers as he looks to get back in the win column for the first time since taking the Listed Tremont on June 6 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga.

Trained by Jerry Robb, the Nyquist chestnut exited to run second to Mo Plex in the Grade 3 Sanford on July 13 at the Spa ahead of a seventh there in the seven-furlong Grade 1 Hopeful on September 2. In his last effort, Studlydoright was a two-length second in the off-the-turf one-mile Laurel Futurity on September 28 at its namesake oval.

Rounding out the field is horseOlogy Racing and Craig Steinhart’s filly Whatintheliteral [post 1, Jose Lezcano], who takes on the boys following four stakes efforts since capturing the Astoria on the same card as Studlydoright’s Tremont victory at the Spa. Trained by Jena Antonucci, the Lord Nelson dark bay most recently finished 6th-of-7 in the Grade 1 Frizette on October 5 here, representing the only horse with local experience aside from Vekoma Rides.

The Nashua is slated as Race 2 on Saturday’s stacked 11-race card, which also features the Listed $150,000 Artie Schiller in Race 4, the Listed $150,000 Tempted in Race 10 and the $135,000 Stewart Manor in Race 8. First post Saturday is 11:20 a.m. Eastern.

The Big A will be open to the public from 10:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Saturday so racing fans can watch and wager on the simulcast of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships from Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California. Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup program is headlined by the Grade 1, $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.

The Breeders’ Cup World Championships kicks off on Friday, November 1 with five races on its Future Stars program, highlighted by the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Aqueduct will host a nine-race card Friday at Belmont at the Big, featuring the $135,000 Atlantic Beach in Race 8. First post Friday is 12:40 p.m. with the property open for simulcasting from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont at the Big A, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.