Vekoma’s Five G on to Kentucky with Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) victory
March 29, 2025
Five G earned her first graded stakes win and stamped her ticket to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) with a gate to wire victory in Saturday’s $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) at the south Florida track.
The 3-year-old filly is one of Vekoma’s five stakes winners to date this year. Vekoma is solidly atop the 2025 Second-Crop Sire list, leading in every statistical category.
Five G, who began the year Jan. 1 at Gulfstream Park with a nine-length win in the Cash Run S. took control of Saturday’s race from the outset. She held a one-length advantage through the first half-mile before Anna’s Promise got within a half-length on the final turn. Five G re-broke at the top of the stretch and widened out to a 2 ¼-length margin at the wire to finish the 1 1/16-miles in 1:43.22.
“[Trainer] George [Weaver] told me to ride with confidence, she’s a nice filly,” said winning rider Manny Franco, who replaced the injured Tyler Gaffalione. “If I end up on the lead, that’s fine; if somebody wants to go, use your Plan B. She broke good, I took advantage of that and I dictated the pace. She was there all the way for me.”
Five G is owned by her breeder Gatsas Stables. Saturday’s victory upped her record to 3-2-0 in six starts with earnings of $390,290.
The win also earned Five G 100 qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, bringing her total to 125, currently third on the list. The top 14 fillies on the list at entry time are guaranteed a spot in the starting gate on May 2nd.