Vekoma’s Colloquial proves uncatchable in Keeneland’s Lafayette S.

Colloquial scored a front-running victory in Monday’s $400,000 Lafayette S. at Keeneland, rolling to a 2 ¼-length win over Smoken Wicked.

The 3-year-old Vekoma colt was making his stakes debut following a Feb. 7 maiden special weight win, where he won by seven lengths and earned a huge 106 Beyer Speed Figure.

Facing winners for the first time in Monday’s seven-furlong contest, Colloquial fired out of the gate to narrowly lead Smoken Wicked through fractions of :22.62 and :44.96. Smoken Wicked got his head in front just outside the quarter pole, but Colloquial quickly responded and put his foe away down the stretch to stop the timer in 1:23.92 on a fast main track.

“We’re always eternally grateful to Vekoma and what he did for us and our barn,” said trainer George Weaver, who conditioned Vekoma as well. “To see him carry on as a stallion and come up with all these runners–it’s a lot of fun. I’d say [Colloquial] is really good. It’s his first time against winners today, and there were some nice horses in here. It was a change of tactics. I didn’t really anticipate being on the lead, but I trust Manny to make decisions that he needs to based on how things are unfolding. He put him on the lead and the horse ran great.”

Just a nose away from being undefeated in three starts, Colloquial has earned $310,000 for owners Harrell Ventures, LLC and Starlight Racing, who purchased him for $240,000 out of the 2023 Keeneland September sale.

Colloquial was bred in Kentucky by Michael and J.B. Orem.

Colloquial is Vekoma’s sixth stakes winner of the year, with three of them graded winners. Vekoma leads the Second-Crop sire list in both categories, as well as by winners and progeny earnings.