Rolando keeps foes at bay in Hutcheson S. win

Vekoma, the nation’s leading Second-Crop sire by a wide margin, tallied his fifth stakes winner of the year March 15 at Gulfstream Park when Rolando fought off Multiverse to win the Hutcheson S.

Saturday’s six-furlong race was the first stakes start for the 3-year-old colt, who was a sharp allowance winner on March 2 over this same track and distance. Rolanda chased stakes winner Guns Loade through the early stages before taking over the top spot midway on the turn. He opened up by two lengths in upper stretch, then dug in gamely to top Multiverse by a neck in 1:10.57 on fast track.

“He’s a horse with natural explosive speed,” winning trainer Fausto Gutierrez said. “You always want a horse that goes long, but in this case, we have a horse for one-turn, and I’m happy.”

Rolando is 3-1-2 in six starts and has earned $152,860 for owner/breeder St. George Stable LLC.

Vekoma’s 2025 progeny earnings are just shy of $3 million and are more than $1.8 million than any other Second-Crop sire. He also leads the list by winners, with 31, and wins, with 38.