Vekoma’s Five G Goes Wire-to-Wire in Gulfstream Park Oaks

[Wandering Eyes]

Gatsas Stable's homebred Five G (Vekoma) secured a berth in the GI Kentucky Oaks with a wire-to-wire victory in the GII Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Park Oaks in Hallandale Beach Saturday. The 6-5 favorite was pressed by second choice The Queens MG (Thousand Words) through a quarter in :23.63 and had inched clear through a half in :47.11. As The Queens MG fell back, Anna's Promise (Promises Fulfilled) took up the challenge on the far turn, but Five G shrugged off that rival at the top of the lane and pulled away to score by 2 1/4 lengths.

“[Trainer] George [Weaver] told me to ride with confidence, she's a nice filly,” said winning rider Manny Franco, who was named this week to replace 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.”

Weaver added, “I was pretty happy when they turned up the backside. She threw her ears up and was relaxed, so I felt like she was going to run her race from there.”

Trainer Carlos David was pleased with the effort from Anna's Promise, who was claimed for $50,000 from her maiden win Feb. 5.

“I'm really proud of her,” David said. “She ran a great race. I thought before the quarter pole we had a shot. She tried hard. We got some [Kentucky Oaks] points, so we'll see what happens from here.”

The Queen's M G was pulled up at the top of the stretch and walked onto a waiting horse van. Owner Mark Cornett told Daily Racing Form's Mike Welsch the filly had suffered a knee injury. “We're not sure exactly what it is at this point, but she might be all right,” Cornett told Welsch.

A maiden winner over the Aqueduct lawn last November, Five G was second in the grassy Tepin Stakes Nov. 17. She returned to the main track with a romping nine-length victory in the Cash Run Stakes at Gulfstream on New Year's Day and was most recently second behind Quietside (Malibu Moon) in the Feb. 23 GIII Honeybee Stakes.

“She's been a nice surprise,” Weaver said of the winner. “She was a nice New York-bred during the summer. When I brought her down here, I thought, 'Wow we might have something here.' It just keeps getting tougher from this point.”

Pedigree Notes:

Five G is the fourth graded stakes winner for Vekoma, who was co-owned by Mike and Matt Gatsas and was trained by George Weaver. She has a yearling full-brother and her dam, Triumphant, was bred to Central Banker last year. Gatsas Stables purchased the mare, in foal to Runhappy, for $57,000 at the 2020 Keeneland November sale.

 

“We're looking forward to going to Kentucky.” @CBredar talked to George Weaver after FIVE G earned 100 Kentucky Oaks points in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2). pic.twitter.com/M12FM1oQvN

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) March 29, 2025

Saturday, Gulfstream
FASIG-TIPTON GULFSTREAM PARK OAKS-GII, $250,000, Gulfstream, 3-29, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:43.22, ft.
1–FIVE G, 122, f, 3, by Vekoma
              1st Dam: Triumphant, by Quality Road
              2nd Dam: Star Torina, by A.P. Indy
              3rd Dam: Gold Canyon, by Mr. Prospector
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Gatsas Stable LLC (NY);
T-George Weaver; J-Manuel Franco. $150,000. Lifetime
Record: 6-3-2-0, $390,290. Werk Nick Rating: C.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free
Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Anna's Promise, 122, f, 3, Promises Fulfilled–Caroline Lois,
by Paynter. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
O-Bell Racing LLC; B-Baron Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY);
T-Carlos A. David. $55,000.
3–Cassiar, 122, f, 3, City of Light–Nellie Cashman, by
Mineshaft. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
($400,000 Ylg '23 FTSAUG). O-William S. Farish; B-Calumet
Farm (KY); T-Claude R. McGaughey III. $27,500.
Margins: 2 1/4, 10 1/4, HD. Odds: 1.30, 8.30, 7.80.
Also Ran: Whatintheliteral, Paradise City, The Queens M G. Scratched: Early On.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

 

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