Vekoma
Vekoma
CANDY RIDE’S FASTEST & BEST-BRED G1 SON
2016, Chestnut, 16h | Entered Stud: 2021 | Nominated to: Breeders' Cup, KTDF
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First yearlings in 2023 have averaged $111,501 – over 5 1/2x stud fee – from 75 sold to date, including $775,000 colt at KEESEP, $400,000 filly at KEESEP, $325,000 filly at KEESEP, $280,000 colt at KEESEP, $250,000 colt at KEESEP, $250,000 colt at KEESEP, $250,000 filly at KEESEP, $250,000 filly at F-T Saratoga, etc.
Buyers of popular first-crop yearlings incl: St. Elias Stables, Spendthrift Farm, Talla Racing, Pin Oak Stud, Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Klaravich Stables, Mike Ryan, Chard Brown, Ben McElroy, Starlight Racing, Harrell Ventures, Hartley/DeRenzo, John Fort, Ciaran Dunne, David Scanlon, Nick De Meric, Deuce Greathouse, Tom McCrocklin, etc.
Top 5 Freshman Weanling Sire in 2022 with a $89,435 avg. from 36 sold – nearly 4.5x the bred-on fee – the highest average by a freshman with a fee of $20,000 or less, and higher than Tiz the Law ($40,000 fee), Improbable ($40,000 fee), etc.
First weanlings/short yearlings incl. 5 session toppers: $290,000 (Kee Nov topper), $215,000 (Kee Nov topper), $180,000 (Kee Jan topper), $160,000, $150,000 (F-T Sar Fall sale topper), $140,000, $130,000 (Kee Nov topper), $130,000, etc.
Named a TDN ‘Value Sire’ by Chris McGrath 3 straight years in 2023, 2022 & 2021.
Multiple G1-winning millionaire, top-class performer at 2, 3 & 4, and incredibly brilliant from 6f to 1 1/8 miles.
Impressive gate-to-wire winner of the prestigious 2020 MET MILE (G1) in 1:32.88 – third fastest in a quarter century and .15 off the track record – defeating G1 winners McKinzie, Code of Honor, etc.
Runaway 7 ¼-length winner of the 2020 CARTER H. (G1) in 1:21.02 for 7f – second fastest in the last 15 years – defeating multiple G1 winners and becoming just the 10th horse to win the Carter & Met Mile in the same year.
“Vekoma is from a stallion-producing family and channels a lot of speed by the standards of his sire of sires.” -Chris McGrath, TDN 2023 ‘Value Sires’
-½ RAGOZIN — Flightline is the only other horse to run a negative number this decade; the fastest son of Candy Ride (Arg) – faster than Gun Runner (-¼).
-5 THORO-GRAPH — the fastest performance recorded in all of 2020.
110 BEYER — the fastest dirt miler of 2020.
Undefeated at 2: Won on debut in a scorching 1:08.93 for 6f, stretched out to a mile to win the NASHUA (G3) at Aqueduct with a 97 Beyer – tied with Game Winner as the second fastest by a juvenile in 2018.
Major Derby prep winner at 3: Stretched his speed to 1 1/8 miles to win the $1,000,000 BLUE GRASS (G2) going away by 3 ½ lengths with a 94 Beyer, defeating multiple G1 winners including classic winner Sir Winston-G1.
Rarity at stud: A multiple G1 winner, by a multiple G1 winner – Candy Ride (Arg), out of a G1 winner – MONA DE MOMMA.
Sire power: By leading sire CANDY RIDE (ARG), out of a Humana Distaff (G1)-winning SPEIGHTSTOWN mare and hailing from the immediate family of MR. GREELEY & STREET SENSE and extended family of elite sire DANEHILL DANCER (IRE).
Won 6-of-8 starts – including being undefeated at both 2 & 4 – with earnings of $1,245,525.
Highly popular young stallion: 222 mares bred in his first book — 4th highest among all stallions in North America and 2nd among first-season stallions, only below Horse of the Year Authentic; bred 196 mares in 2022 and booked full again in 2023.
First in-foal mares sold up to $300,000 in 2021.
First crop are yearlings in 2023.
“He sealed his status as one of the most lavishly talented animals around…This must be (Candy Ride’s) fastest son to stud, moreover, with the precocity to clock a 97 Beyer in the Nashua (at 2).” -Chris McGrath, TDN 2021 ‘Value Sires’
| Age | Starts | 1st (SW) | 2nd (SP) | 3rd (SP) | Earned |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 2 (1) | 0 | 0 | $151,250 |
| 3 | 3 | 1 (1) | 0 | 1 (1) | $637,600 |
| 4 | 3 | 3 (3) | 0 | 0 | $456,675 |
| Totals | 8 | 6 (5) | 0 | 1 (1) | $1,245,525 |
Racing Highlights
Won at 2
- Nashua S. at Aqueduct (G3, 8 furlongs in 1:36.62, by 1 3/4 lengths, defeating Network Effect, Call Paul, U S Navy Cross, etc.)
- A maiden special weight race at Belmont (6 furlongs in 1:08.93, by 1 3/4 lengths, defeating Epic Dreamer, Mihos, Front Run the Fed, etc.)
Won at 3
- Blue Grass S. at Keeneland (G2, 9 furlongs in 1:50.93, by 3 1/2 lengths, defeating Win Win Win, Signalman, Somelikeithotbrown, Chess Chief, So Alive, Sir Winston, Admire, etc.)
3rd at 3
- Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream (G2, 9 furlongs, to Code of Honor and Bourbon War, defeating Hidden Scroll, Global Campaign, Signalman, Everfast, etc.)
Won at 4
- Metropolitan H. at Belmont (G1, 8 furlongs in 1:32.88 by 1 1/4 lengths, defeating Network Effect, Code of Honor, Warrior's Charge, McKinzie, Mr Freeze, Endorsed, Hog Creek Hustle)
- Carter H. at Aqueduct (G1, 7 furlongs in 1:21.02, defeating Network Effect, American Anthem, Firenze Fire, Nitrous, Mind Control, Bon Raison, Still Having Fun)
- Sir Shackleton S. at Gulfstream (7 furlongs in 1:21.92 by 3 3/4 lengths, defeating Yorkton, He Hate Me, Bourbon Resolution, Home Base, etc.)
Pedigree
Alan Porter’s 2024 Breeding Analysis for Vekoma
A brilliant multiple grade one-winning sprinter/miler, Vekoma was undefeated at two and four and carried his speed for a decisive victory in a major Derby trial at three. By Candy Ride – an outstanding sire, and now a sire of sires with four Grade one-siring sons – Vekoma is out Mona de Momma, a Grade one-winning sprinter closely related to Mr. Greeley.
The most prolific cross for Candy Ride and sons has been with Storm Cat line mares, this already having produced more than 50 stakes winners. Candy Ride son, grade one winner Rock Your World’s second dam is by a son of Storm Cat. Candy Ride also sired Horse of the Year Gun Runner out of a mare by Giant’s Causeway. The Candy Ride line cross with mares by Giant’s Causeway son by Cowboy Cal, has produced classic winner Rombauer and Grade one winner Gunite (inbred to Giant’s Causeway). There is a Candy Ride-line stakes winner out of a mare by Giant’s Causeway son Eskendereya, and he can also be brought in through Not This Time (who has crossed well over Candy Ride), First Samurai and Creative Cause. There is a Gun Runner grade one winner, Echo Zulu, out of a mare by Menifee (by Harlan, sire of Harlan’s Holiday, and grandsire of Into Mischief), and a Gun Runner graded winner and grade one performer, Pappacap, out of a mare by Scat Daddy (by Johannesburg, a son of Hennessy, whose son, Henny Hughes, is also broodmare sire of a Candy Ride-line stakes winner. The Candy Ride-line cross with mares by Forest Wildcat (sire of Wildcat Heir and D’Wildcat, himself already broodmare sire of a Candy Ride stakes winner) has also worked particularly well. The 2023 two-year-old Group one winner Candied is out of a mare by Roaring Fever (brother to Stormin Fever), and Grade one winner Capt. Candyman Can is out of a mare by Storm Creek. There are also Candy Ride line stakes winners out of mares by Forestry (sire of Shackleford and Discreet Cat), Tale of the Cat (sire of Lion Heart and Tale of Ekati, grandsire of Kantharos and Uncaptured), Stormy Atlantic, Yankee Gentleman, Cat Thief, Tabasco Cat, Sea of Secrets, Grand Reward, Bluegrass Cat, Consolidator, Pure Prize, With Distinction and Vision and Verse.
Storm Cat is a Northern Dancer-line horse and Candy Ride has also enjoyed success over mares from the Sadler’s Wells branch of this line. On this cross, a son of Candy Ride has a grade one winner out of a mare by Powerscourt, and there are stakes winners out of mares by King of Kings, Kitten’s Joy, and El Prado, which suggests trying daughters of Medaglia d’Oro (sire of Violence and Warrior’s Reward) and Artie Schiller, and there is also a stakes winner out of a mare by King of Kings. It would also be possible to consider the Galileo branch, and his sons Magician and Capo Blanco both stood in North America.
Candy Ride and sons have sire more than 40 stakes winners out of A.P. Indy-line mares, seven of them Grade one. They include champion Game Winner out of a mare by A.P. Indy himself, and Grade one winners out of mares by Flatter (brother to Congrats), Malibu Moon, Old Trieste, First Dude (by Stephen Got Even), Stroll and Tapit (sire of Constitution, Frosted, Concord Point, Tapizar, Tonalist, Tapiture and Trappe Shot). Stroll and Tapit are by Pulpit, himself broodmare sire of three Candy Ride line stakes winners which would also make Sky Mesa and Corinthian (broodmare sire of a Candy Ride line stakes winner) a possibility. There are also four Candy Ride-line stakes winners, two graded, out mares by A.P. Indy son, Mineshaft, sire of Dialed In and Discreetly Mine, two graded stakes winners out of mares by Bernardini (sire of Stay Thirsty and To Honor and Serve), also suggesting daughters of such as Jump Start and Majestic Warrior.
Candy Ride and sons have enjoyed tremendous success crossed over mares from the Mr. Prospector line. They have been particularly good with their own Fappiano branch, particularly through Unbridled. Out of mares by Empire Maker (sire of Pioneerof the Nile and Bodemeister; grandsire of American Pharoah, Cairo Prince andClassic Empire) there are two graded winners, including Grade one winner Separationofpowers. There are seven stakes winners by Candy Ride and sons out of mares by Unbridled’s Song, including grade one winners Gift Box and Leofric. The cross of Candy Ride and sons with mares by sons of Unbridled’s Song has produced six stakes winners, including grade one winner Beyond Brilliant out of a mare by First Defence, graded stakes winner Danzing Candy out of a mare by Songandprayer, and stakes winners out of mares by Political Force and Rockport Harbor. Other sources of Unbridled’s Song include Liam’s Map, Cross Traffic, Midshipman, Old Fashioned, Zensational, Even The Score, Dunkirk, Half Ours and Buddha.
Unbridled could also be brought in through Broken Vow. We also find Candy Ride grade one winner Finley’sluckycharm out of a mare by Victory Gallop from this line, and it could also be worth considering introducing Fappiano through Quiet American, the grandsire of Midnight Lute, and Rubiano, sire of Burning Roma and Too Much Bling.
Candy Ride sired three stakes winners, including graded stakes winner Sugar Shock out of mares by Distorted Humor. Candy Ride and sons have five stakes winners out of mares by Distorted Humor, including graded scorers Intricate and Sugar Shock. In addition, Grade one winner Cyberknife is by a son of Candy Ride, out of mare by Distorted Humor son, Flower Alley, suggesting trying mares by other Distorted Humor sons such as Maclean’s Music, Jimmy Creed, Khozan, Brethren and Alternation. Distorted Humor is by Forty Niner – building on the Mr. Prospector/Tom Rolfe cross found in Vekoma through Cryptoclearance and Moma de Momma – and we can also find Forty Niner through Coronado’s Quest, broodmare sire of two Candy Ride-line stakes winners, as well as Banker’s Gold, Editor’s Note, End Sweep and his son, Trippi, Gold Fever, Roar and Tactical Advantage (broodmare sire of a Candy Ride-line grade one winner). There is also a stakes winner by Candy Ride out of a mare by Fusaichi Pegasus, who is bred on the same cross as Distorted Humor and is sire of Roman Ruler and Bandini.
Mr. Prospector son, Carson City is a Mr. Prospector/Blushing Groom cross, like Candy Ride, and Candy Ride and sons have three winners, including stakes winners out of mares by Lord Carson and Flying Chevron. This suggests trying daughters of City Zip (whose son Run Away And Hide, would be interesting), Five Star Day, Cuvee and Pollard’sVision.
Vekoma is bred on the cross of Candy Ride with a Gone West line mare, and crossing back over mares by Gone West sons and grandsons is worth considering, with sources including Mr. Greeley (who is particularly interesting as his sire and dam are the grandsire and granddam of Vekoma’s Grade one-winning dam, Mona de Momma, and who is available of El Corredor and Whywhywhy), Grand Slam (sire of Limehouse), Elusive Quality (sire of Quality Road, Smarty Jones and Great Notion) and Proud Citizen. From other branches of the Mr. Prospector, Candy Ride sired one of his best runners, Twirling Candy, out of a mare by Mr. Prospector son, Chester House, and has a stakes winner out of a mare by Kingmambo (sire of Lemon Drop Kid). Candy Ride has a grade two winner out of a mare by StreetCry, and mares by his son, Street Sense, could be interesting here as he is from the immediate family of Vekoma.
There appears to be a very strong affinity for Candy Ride and sons for mares descending from Caro. There are nine stakes winners by Candy Ride and sons out of mares from the male-line of Indian Charlie’s sire, In Excess. This includes grade one winner Geaux Rocket Ride out of a mare by Uncle Mo (sire of Nyquist, Laoban and Outwork) which also suggests introducing mares by Indian Charlie, who is the sire of Adios Charlie, Cindago (broodmare sire of a Candy Ride line stakes winner) Bwana Charlie, Liaison and Cinco Charlie, and his sire, In Excess is also sire of Rocky Bar, Notional and Bring the Heat (broodmare sire of a Candy Ride line stakes winner). We can also note thatCozzene is a Caro son who is broodmare sire of a Candy Ride stakes winner, and he is the sire of Mizzen Mast.
There is a Candy Ride line stakes winner out of a mare by Closing Argument, and a trio of stakes winners, two graded by Candy Ride and sons out of mares by that horse’s sire, Successful Appeal. There is a son of Valid Appeal, also sire of Valid Wager and Valid Expectations. There are also two stakes winners by Candy Ride out of mares by Arch (sire of Blame).
Alan Porter’s 2024 Breeding Analysis for Vekoma
A brilliant multiple grade one-winning sprinter/miler, Vekoma was undefeated at two and four and carried his speed for a decisive victory in a major Derby trial at three. By Candy Ride – an outstanding sire, and now a sire of sires with four Grade one-siring sons – Vekoma is out Mona de Momma, a Grade one-winning sprinter closely related to Mr. Greeley.
The most prolific cross for Candy Ride and sons has been with Storm Cat line mares, this already having produced more than 50 stakes winners. Candy Ride son, grade one winner Rock Your World’s second dam is by a son of Storm Cat. Candy Ride also sired Horse of the Year Gun Runner out of a mare by Giant’s Causeway. The Candy Ride line cross with mares by Giant’s Causeway son by Cowboy Cal, has produced classic winner Rombauer and Grade one winner Gunite (inbred to Giant’s Causeway). There is a Candy Ride-line stakes winner out of a mare by Giant’s Causeway son Eskendereya, and he can also be brought in through Not This Time (who has crossed well over Candy Ride), First Samurai and Creative Cause. There is a Gun Runner grade one winner, Echo Zulu, out of a mare by Menifee (by Harlan, sire of Harlan’s Holiday, and grandsire of Into Mischief), and a Gun Runner graded winner and grade one performer, Pappacap, out of a mare by Scat Daddy (by Johannesburg, a son of Hennessy, whose son, Henny Hughes, is also broodmare sire of a Candy Ride-line stakes winner. The Candy Ride-line cross with mares by Forest Wildcat (sire of Wildcat Heir and D’Wildcat, himself already broodmare sire of a Candy Ride stakes winner) has also worked particularly well. The 2023 two-year-old Group one winner Candied is out of a mare by Roaring Fever (brother to Stormin Fever), and Grade one winner Capt. Candyman Can is out of a mare by Storm Creek. There are also Candy Ride line stakes winners out of mares by Forestry (sire of Shackleford and Discreet Cat), Tale of the Cat (sire of Lion Heart and Tale of Ekati, grandsire of Kantharos and Uncaptured), Stormy Atlantic, Yankee Gentleman, Cat Thief, Tabasco Cat, Sea of Secrets, Grand Reward, Bluegrass Cat, Consolidator, Pure Prize, With Distinction and Vision and Verse.
Storm Cat is a Northern Dancer-line horse and Candy Ride has also enjoyed success over mares from the Sadler’s Wells branch of this line. On this cross, a son of Candy Ride has a grade one winner out of a mare by Powerscourt, and there are stakes winners out of mares by King of Kings, Kitten’s Joy, and El Prado, which suggests trying daughters of Medaglia d’Oro (sire of Violence and Warrior’s Reward) and Artie Schiller, and there is also a stakes winner out of a mare by King of Kings. It would also be possible to consider the Galileo branch, and his sons Magician and Capo Blanco both stood in North America.
Candy Ride and sons have sire more than 40 stakes winners out of A.P. Indy-line mares, seven of them Grade one. They include champion Game Winner out of a mare by A.P. Indy himself, and Grade one winners out of mares by Flatter (brother to Congrats), Malibu Moon, Old Trieste, First Dude (by Stephen Got Even), Stroll and Tapit (sire of Constitution, Frosted, Concord Point, Tapizar, Tonalist, Tapiture and Trappe Shot). Stroll and Tapit are by Pulpit, himself broodmare sire of three Candy Ride line stakes winners which would also make Sky Mesa and Corinthian (broodmare sire of a Candy Ride line stakes winner) a possibility. There are also four Candy Ride-line stakes winners, two graded, out mares by A.P. Indy son, Mineshaft, sire of Dialed In and Discreetly Mine, two graded stakes winners out of mares by Bernardini (sire of Stay Thirsty and To Honor and Serve), also suggesting daughters of such as Jump Start and Majestic Warrior.
Candy Ride and sons have enjoyed tremendous success crossed over mares from the Mr. Prospector line. They have been particularly good with their own Fappiano branch, particularly through Unbridled. Out of mares by Empire Maker (sire of Pioneerof the Nile and Bodemeister; grandsire of American Pharoah, Cairo Prince andClassic Empire) there are two graded winners, including Grade one winner Separationofpowers. There are seven stakes winners by Candy Ride and sons out of mares by Unbridled’s Song, including grade one winners Gift Box and Leofric. The cross of Candy Ride and sons with mares by sons of Unbridled’s Song has produced six stakes winners, including grade one winner Beyond Brilliant out of a mare by First Defence, graded stakes winner Danzing Candy out of a mare by Songandprayer, and stakes winners out of mares by Political Force and Rockport Harbor. Other sources of Unbridled’s Song include Liam’s Map, Cross Traffic, Midshipman, Old Fashioned, Zensational, Even The Score, Dunkirk, Half Ours and Buddha.
Unbridled could also be brought in through Broken Vow. We also find Candy Ride grade one winner Finley’sluckycharm out of a mare by Victory Gallop from this line, and it could also be worth considering introducing Fappiano through Quiet American, the grandsire of Midnight Lute, and Rubiano, sire of Burning Roma and Too Much Bling.
Candy Ride sired three stakes winners, including graded stakes winner Sugar Shock out of mares by Distorted Humor. Candy Ride and sons have five stakes winners out of mares by Distorted Humor, including graded scorers Intricate and Sugar Shock. In addition, Grade one winner Cyberknife is by a son of Candy Ride, out of mare by Distorted Humor son, Flower Alley, suggesting trying mares by other Distorted Humor sons such as Maclean’s Music, Jimmy Creed, Khozan, Brethren and Alternation. Distorted Humor is by Forty Niner – building on the Mr. Prospector/Tom Rolfe cross found in Vekoma through Cryptoclearance and Moma de Momma – and we can also find Forty Niner through Coronado’s Quest, broodmare sire of two Candy Ride-line stakes winners, as well as Banker’s Gold, Editor’s Note, End Sweep and his son, Trippi, Gold Fever, Roar and Tactical Advantage (broodmare sire of a Candy Ride-line grade one winner). There is also a stakes winner by Candy Ride out of a mare by Fusaichi Pegasus, who is bred on the same cross as Distorted Humor and is sire of Roman Ruler and Bandini.
Mr. Prospector son, Carson City is a Mr. Prospector/Blushing Groom cross, like Candy Ride, and Candy Ride and sons have three winners, including stakes winners out of mares by Lord Carson and Flying Chevron. This suggests trying daughters of City Zip (whose son Run Away And Hide, would be interesting), Five Star Day, Cuvee and Pollard’sVision.
Vekoma is bred on the cross of Candy Ride with a Gone West line mare, and crossing back over mares by Gone West sons and grandsons is worth considering, with sources including Mr. Greeley (who is particularly interesting as his sire and dam are the grandsire and granddam of Vekoma’s Grade one-winning dam, Mona de Momma, and who is available of El Corredor and Whywhywhy), Grand Slam (sire of Limehouse), Elusive Quality (sire of Quality Road, Smarty Jones and Great Notion) and Proud Citizen. From other branches of the Mr. Prospector, Candy Ride sired one of his best runners, Twirling Candy, out of a mare by Mr. Prospector son, Chester House, and has a stakes winner out of a mare by Kingmambo (sire of Lemon Drop Kid). Candy Ride has a grade two winner out of a mare by StreetCry, and mares by his son, Street Sense, could be interesting here as he is from the immediate family of Vekoma.
There appears to be a very strong affinity for Candy Ride and sons for mares descending from Caro. There are nine stakes winners by Candy Ride and sons out of mares from the male-line of Indian Charlie’s sire, In Excess. This includes grade one winner Geaux Rocket Ride out of a mare by Uncle Mo (sire of Nyquist, Laoban and Outwork) which also suggests introducing mares by Indian Charlie, who is the sire of Adios Charlie, Cindago (broodmare sire of a Candy Ride line stakes winner) Bwana Charlie, Liaison and Cinco Charlie, and his sire, In Excess is also sire of Rocky Bar, Notional and Bring the Heat (broodmare sire of a Candy Ride line stakes winner). We can also note thatCozzene is a Caro son who is broodmare sire of a Candy Ride stakes winner, and he is the sire of Mizzen Mast.
There is a Candy Ride line stakes winner out of a mare by Closing Argument, and a trio of stakes winners, two graded by Candy Ride and sons out of mares by that horse’s sire, Successful Appeal. There is a son of Valid Appeal, also sire of Valid Wager and Valid Expectations. There are also two stakes winners by Candy Ride out of mares by Arch (sire of Blame).
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