‘Nothing Too Terribly Major,’ 60 Days Off for Woody Stephens Scratch Colloquial

[Wandering Eyes]

Scratched from the GI Woody Stephens S. on the blockbuster GI Belmont Stakes program at Saratoga June 7, 'TDN Rising Star' Colloquial (Vekoma) will be given 60 days off, per co-owner Jack Wolf of Starlight Racing.

“He's at Fair Hill right now with Bruce Jackson,” Wolf said.

“Dr. Yarborough and (trainer) George (Weaver) didn't like the way that he was moving. Even though–we'd been pointing to that thing for some time–it was a tough call, it was the right call. He'll probably be back in 60 days or something like that. Nothing too terribly major.”

The prestigious GI Malibu S., typically held on Santa Anita's opening day program the day after Christmas, will be the long-term target for the Harrell Ventures and Starlight Racing colorbearer upon his return.

“I'm sure he'll be ready for the Malibu, or probably a race before then,” Wolf said. “That's sort of what we're thinking anyway. The horse will tell us as you well know.”

Colloquial posted four breezes for Weaver following his front-running win in Keeneland's Lafayette S. Apr. 7. He was listed at odds of 6-1 on the morning line in a very deep renewal of the Woody Stephens, which was won by 'Rising Star' Patch Adams (Into Mischief).

The $240,000 Keeneland September graduate earned a gaudy 106 Beyer in his prior start, a seven-length maiden win in his sophomore debut off the bench at Aqueduct Feb. 7. Only three 3-year-olds have run faster races on the Beyer scale this year–Sovereignty (Into Mischief) (109), Journalism (Curlin) (108) and Magnitude (Not This Time) (108).

Colloquial's debut second–beaten just a nose by Fierceness (City of Light)'s full-brother and subsequent GIII Futurity S. winner Mentee–at Aqueduct last June was highlighted in our 'Second Chances' series.

Colloquial hails from the first crop of the promising Spendthrift Farm stallion and Weaver-trained Vekoma, who is already responsible for a quartet of graded winners. He was produced by the John Oxley-bred, two-time winner Terminology (Bernardini). His third dam is Oxley's GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Gal in a Ruckus. He was bred in Kentucky by Michael and J.B. Orem.

“Vekoma is the next coming,” Wolf said.

Watch the full replay as COLLOQUIAL turns back the challenge and captures the Lafayette (L)! pic.twitter.com/Ax9Xu6fbh1

— Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) April 7, 2025

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