BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Maykomotion graduated into stakes company with success from a last out maiden victory, taking the $110,000 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore by two lengths as jockey John Velazquez won the first two Florida Cup races on the day.
After winning the $98,000 AAA Feed & Tack Turf Classic on Uncle’s Gold in the previous race, Velazquez guided Maykomotion to a front-running victory against four other 3-year-old Floirda-breds going seven furlongs. The Sophomore and Turf Classic were the first two of six $100,000 stakes, all for Florida-breds, in 23rth running of the Florida Cup at Tampa Bay Downs Sunday.
Trained by George Weaver for Bona Venture Stables and Bianco Thoroughbreds, Maykomotion was a clear leader through quarter-mile splits of :22.74 and :45.93 on the fast track. Rockies Balboa, the 9-10 second choice, came from four lengths back to apply pressure coming out of the turn, but Maykomotion turned away the challenge to win by two lengths in 1:22.88. Rockies Balboa was second, four-and-three-quarters lengths ahead of Best Minet Yet in third. Hard Talk and Leftnateawalkin completed the order of finish.
“There was not much for me to do other than let him go and do whatever he wanted to do,” Velazquez said. “The decision was to allow the horse freedom early.”
Maykomotion paid $3.60 to win.
After finishing fifth in his first career start at Gulfstream Park in December, Weaver gave Maykomotion nearly three months before bringing him back at Tampa Bay Downs on March 7. Facing special weight maidens going seven furlongs, the son of Vekoma flashed his speed, leading wire-to-wire to win by six-and-a-quarter lengths.
“Johnny is a Hall of Famer and he has a very good sense about horses so he didn’t need any instructions from me,” Weaver said. “That was a good race from this horse and it’s always nice to have one by Vekoma, who gave me a lot of great memories.”
Maykomotion earned $60,000 for the victory to increase his career earnings to $99,000 from three starts. He is out of the Florida-bred mare Maymont, by Unbrided’s Song and was bred in Florida by Dominique Damico. Maymont has six foals, all winners with Maykomotion her first stakes winner. She was a $25,000 purchase by D & D in foal to Thousand Words at the 2021 Keeneland November Breeding Stock. Maymont is out of the stakes-placed mare Miss Prado and is half-sister to stakes-winner Euro Platinum.
A $150,000 yearling at the 2024 Keeneland September Sale, Maykomotion was purchased $160,000 by SGV/GRW as an agent for Bona Venture Stables at last year’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale where he was consigned by Niall Brennan Stables.
