Vekoma gets 20th First-Crop winner in Churchill Downs MdSpWt

Vekoma tallied his third winner of the week and 20^th overall Friday at Churchill Downs when Alyeska came from last to first to win 6 ½-furlong maiden special weight contest.

The 2-year-old filly, a Mary Lou Whitney Stables LLC homebred, was making her career debut for trainer Norm Casse.

After the break, Alyeska was last of 11 as Contemplate led through a quarter-mile in :22.66. Alyeska began to gain ground entering the turn and was seven-wide by the time she turned for home. She was full of momentum in the stretch and rolled past Contemplate in the final sixteenth to win by a length.

Alyeska is out of Gull Island, who is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Bird Song. This is also the immediate family of multiple Grade 1 winners Birdstone and Bird Town.

Vekoma leads all First-Crop sires by winners, as well as wins, with 23, and stakes horses, with seven. He stood the 2024 season at Spendthrift Farm for $15,000 live foal.