Freshman sire Vekoma picked up his first black-type stakes winner as Louisiana Jess ran away from the field in the D.S. Shine Young Futurity Aug. 3 at Evangeline Downs.
Breaking from the inside, the colt stalked the lead from the start before jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. brought the 2-year-old three wide around the turn of the 5 1/2-furlong trial. Overtaking Big Rasee , Vekoma’s son continued to strengthen and overtook the lead to win by five lengths in 1:05.67 on the fast main track.
Bred by Clear Creek Stud and Warren Harang, Louisiana Jess is out of the Tale of the Cat mare Miss Jazebel. Owned by Mansfield Racing and trained by Bret Calhoun, Louisiana Jess was a $50,000 purchase at Fasig-Tipton’s The July Sale in 2023 out of the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment.
The colt is undefeated from two starts with $82,320 in earnings.
Vekoma, who stood this year for $15,000 at Spendthrift Farm near Lexington, has had 32 runners and 13 winners from his first group of progeny to hit the track through Aug. 3.
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A millionaire in his racing days ($1,245,535), the Kentucky-bred Vekoma was 6-0-1 from eight starts. His record includes wins in the 2020 Metropolitan Handicap (G1) and Carter Handicap (G1), 2019 Blue Grass Stakes (G2), and the 2018 Nashua Stakes (G3).
He was bred by Alpha Delta Stables and owned by R.A. Hill Stable and Gatsas Stables.