Colloquial on Track for Woody Stephens Stakes

Harrell Ventures and Starlight Racing‘s Colloquial (Vekoma), tabbed a ‘TDN Rising Star’ following his seven-length maiden victory at Aqueduct in February, continued preparations for his graded stakes debut in the June 7 GI Woody Stephens Stakes with a five-furlong work in 1:03.25 over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga last Thursday.

“We’ve been happy with him,” trainer George Weaver said. “We’ve been waiting for this race for a long time, and now we’re getting close.”

Colloquial followed up his 6 1/2-furlong maiden win with a 2 1/4-length victory going seven furlongs in the Lafayette Stakes at Keeneland Apr. 7.

“Good horses are [versatile], and they can adjust to situations,” Weaver said. “He’s talented, so luckily he’s good enough to have that versatility. I don’t think he’s tied to any one way of running. I’m sure this will be a competitive race, but I wouldn’t trade places with anybody.”

Colloquial headlines several candidates for Weaver at this year’s Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. The veteran conditioner also has Dorth Vader (Girvin), Sacred Wish (Not This Time), and Soontobeking (King for a Day) nominated to races during the five-day Festival.

Dorth Vader, most recently a troubled fourth in the GI La Troienne Stakes, is likely being pointed to the GI Ogden Phipps Stakes. The race offers a “Win and You’re In” berth into the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff in November at Del Mar.

Last year’s GI Matriarch Stakes winner Sacred Wish, who worked a half-mile in :51.25 over the Oklahoma dirt Saturday, has been nominated to the June 5 GI Just a Game Stakes.

“We’ll see how her next work goes,” the trainer said. “We’re kind of up in the air about her next start.”

Soontobeking, co-owned by Our Blue Streaks Stable, SGV Thoroughbreds, and Weaver, is targeting the Mike Lee Stakes for New York-bred sophomores on the June 4 Opening Day of the Festival. The colt has compiled a 12-3-3-4 record with $363,428 in earnings, highlighted by a stakes triumph in the state-bred Gander Stakes Mar. 8.

“We’re looking forward to seeing him again,” Weaver said of Soontobeking, whose last effort was a runner-up finish in the Apr. 13 NYSSS Times Square. “You appreciate the horses that always show up, and he does. He just overcomes with try.”