Vekoma tallies Saturday stakes winners at Churchill Downs and Woodbine
June 27, 2026
The nation’s leading Third-Crop sire Vekoma had a banner day Saturday with a pair of stakes winners as Brachetto won the Marine S. (G3) at Woodbine and Alpyland took the $275,000 American Derby at Churchill Downs.
The Marine was the first stakes win for Brachetto, while Alpyland registered his four black type score in the American Derby. Vekoma has nine black type winners and 19 black type horses overall this year, both figures the highest among Third-Crop sires.
Three-year-old Brachetto, who was third in Woodbine’s Queenstown S. three weeks ago, overcame some traffic trouble to score by a half-length after a thrilling stretch run. Last of six for the first three-quarters, Brachetto had to check off heels after entering the final bend, then found clear running on the inside. After turning for home, he switched to the outside and ran down Magical Factor in the final yards to secure the win.
Brachetto is 2-1-2 in five starts and has earned $122,409 for owner/breeders Dr. Ross A. and Brenda McKague.
At Churchill Downs Alpyland’s class showed as he came home a clear 3 ½-length winner in the 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-olds. Stalking Thousandsticks for the first six furlongs, Alpyland took command in upper stretch and drew off with authority for his fourth win, all in stakes, this year.
“We’re thrilled for the connections to win this race,” said trainer Mark Casse’s assistant Allen Hardy. “He came back and backed up his effort in the Penn Mile (G3, on May 29) with another outstanding performance. He continues to show us what we thought he was capable of.”
Alpyland is owned by D. J. Stable LLC and now has a record of 6-0-2 in 11 starts, with earnings of $724,706. The bay was bred in Kentucky by Denis L. Villella.