Vekoma’s Pantherian Elevated to First-Out Win at Belmont Big A

[Wandering Eyes]

2nd-Belmont The Big A, $80,000, (S), Msw, 10-24, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 1:16.77, ft, 2 1/4 lengths.
PANTHERIAN (c, 2, Vekoma–Big Thrill, by Big Drama) and Wamo (Yaupon) went at each other for most of this New York-bred maiden, and the Stewards ultimately had to step in to reverse the running order.

After a shoe repair in the paddock, Wamo brushed with the off side stall at the jump but recovered well enough to place himself right in the middle of a duel for the lead. Pantherian traveled from four off the rail and to the outside of his challengers, but had locked horns with Wamo for the homeward drive as they spun into the lane.

The pair exchanged the first of several brushes passing the three-sixteenths marker, and Pantherian lost the advantage at the final sixteenth, but was mounting another try when Wamo herded him out three paths under left-hand urging. They once again brushed off each other, and came in heads apart under the wire with Wamo officially crossing the line first. There was an immediate Stewards' inquiry into the stretch run, and after a review, the running order was reversed. Disqualified for interference, Wamo was placed second behind Pantherian prior to the result being declared official.

The victor is the fourth winner from five to the races and the most recent of age for Big Thrill. The mare has a 2025 colt by Golden Pal and was bred to Cogburn for 2026. Sales history: $145,000 Ylg '24 FTKOCT; $750,000 2yo '25 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $44,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-WinStar Farm, LLC, First Go Racing and CHC, Inc.; B-Annemarie Toomey (NY); T-Todd A. Pletcher.

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