Veeson. (Nikki Sherman/EQUI-PHOTO)
Maribeth Kalinich
BENSALEM, Pa.—Charles Russo’s homebred Veeson ridden by Dexter Haddock nailed Prince of Rain by a neck on the wire in the $100,000 Jump Start Stakes at Parx Racing.
With Bourbon Music under Andy Hernandez setting a quick pace with a 22.17 opening quarter, they would hold that lead to the straight as the field changed positions. Jean Valjean up for second on the 44.90 half, Dollarazation up at the top of the stretch as Prince of Rain under Inoel Beato came up from eighth to third. Beren under Frankie Pennington was holding at fourth.
Veeson has been in the back of the field of 12 as had Prince of Rain, tenth and eighth at the half mile, respectively. Prince of Rain made his move at the top of the stretch while Veeson was still in seventh. Under a late surge Veeson would pass a tiring Dollarization finishing fourth, One More Scoop made an honest effort for third coming from sixth.
Veeson turned on the afterburners and surged from seventh to pass them all clipping Prince of Rain at the wire by a neck.
Strawberry Treat, Bourbon Music, Beren, Jean Valjean, John Dulton, Smooth B, Word On a Wing and Fore Harp complete the order of finish.
Good On Ya was Also-Eligible but did not draw in. Keithsendshelloooo and Ninetyprcentmaddie were both trainer scratches.
The seven furlongs on the main track was completed in 1:26.58 with the record set by Eternal Star at 1:20.53 June 28, 2008.
Click for PTHA video of the win and connections on X.
Veeson returned his backers well with $45 for the win, $23.20 place and $8.80 show. Prince of Rain made a nice exacta at $13.20 and 7.80. One More Scoop would have been the cherry on top of the Trifecta at $16, paying a nice $1,926.35 on the 50 cent Tri.
Trained by Ernesto Padilla-Preciado, this was the third straight win for the PA-Bred son of Il Villano.
The dark bay 3-year-old colt had three wins in ten starts with three seconds and two thirds earning $221,440. Making his debut September 5, 2022, he was third in the Prince Lucky Stakes in his second start and second in the Pennsylvania Nursery to close out his juvenile year.
