Adam Coglianese / NYRA Photo

Vekoma much the best in Runhappy Carter (G1) rout

by Brian Bohl

Vekoma tracked pacesetter American Anthem into the final turn before making a strong move from the outside and drawing away impressively in the stretch for a 7 ¼-length romp over Belmont Park’s sloppy and sealed main track in the Grade 1, $250,000 Runhappy Carter, a handicap for 3-year-olds and up, on Saturday.

Owned by R.A. Hill Stables and Gastas Stables, the 4-year-old son of Candy Ride captured the 120th running of the Runhappy Carter, earning a “Win and You’re In” entry to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint on November 7 at Keeneland through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series.  

The George Weaver trainee came off a long layoff following a 12th-place finish in last year’s Kentucky Derby, winning the seven-furlong Sir Shackleton by 3 3/4 lengths on March 28 at Gulfstream Park in his first race back. Vekoma returned at the same distance in the Runhappy Carter and improved to 2-for-2 as a 4-year-old, completing the course in a final time of 1:21.02 to the best the eight-horse field.

Before entertaining Breeders’ Cup dreams, Weaver said Vekoma could return to Belmont in the immediate future, with the Grade 1, $500,000 Runhappy Metropolitan, a prestigious one-mile handicap, a potential next spot on July 4.

“It's just so nice to have a horse this good. He's always been a special horse. I'm just grateful he's in my barn to be honest,” Weaver said. “I think off that effort, we'll look at the Met Mile. If we can get him back in four weeks and if he's doing well, we'll think about it. 

“He's such a special horse and he's one of those horses that will do things that you may not think are ideal for him,” he added. “He's just that good. I've never had a horse with this much talent and determination in him. He just knows what he is."

American Anthem broke sharp and led the field through an opening quarter-mile in 22.38 seconds and the half in 45.02. Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano kept Vekoma in second position, a length off the leader, before finishing strong.

“He's a really nice horse. I really like the way he did it today,” said Castellano, who rode Vekoma to victory in the Grade 2 Blue Grass and then in the Derby. “The way he handled the track today was amazing. I didn't have any concern before the race because I rode him in the slop in the Kentucky Derby and he loved it, a mile and a quarter was just too far. He cut back in distance and we got what we were looking for today."  

Off as the 8-5 favorite, Vekoma returned $5.30 on a $2 win bet. The Kentucky bred approached millionaire status, improving his career bankroll to $970,525.

Network Effect, trained by Chad Brown, who won the Grade 3 Intercontinental with Newspaperofrecord and the Grade 2 Fort Marcy with Instilled Regard earlier in the day, was 1 ¼ lengths the best of American Anthem for second.

Firenze Fire, Nitrous, Mind Control, Bon Raison and Still Having Fun completed the order of finish. 

Midnight Charlie and Majestic Dunhill were scratched, as was 3-1 morning-line favorite Performer, who has a minor ankle injury but could have another chance to face Vekoma in the Runhappy Metropolitan, according to Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.

"I always had it in my thoughts [Metropolitan],” McGaughey said. “I'll have to let the horse tell me. He was 95 percent sound this morning, so I don't think I'll lose a lot of time with him. So, we'll see."

Live racing resumes Sunday with a 10-race card highlighted by the $80,000 First Defence for 4-year-olds and up going seven furlongs on the Widener turf in Race 9 at 5:36 p.m. Eastern. First post is 1:15 p.m.