Calgary Cat faces only four in Vigil Stakes
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Canadian champion sprinter Calgary Cat will look to double up to start his 2015 campaign when he faces only four rivals in Sunday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Vigil Stakes over seven furlongs on Polytrack at Woodbine.
Calgary Cat found the winner’s circle for the sixth time in his last eight starts in his seasonal debut in the Jacques Cartier Stakes on April 26. He sat off the pace along the rail in the early going under regular rider Eurico Da Silva before surging in the final strides to catch the front-running Parise for a half-length victory.
“At the top of the lane, I wasn’t too positive that we were going to run down [Parise],” trainer Kevin Attard said. “Once Eurico got [Calgary Cat] out, he kind of just mowed them down. It was pretty impressive.”
Attard said he is happy with the way Calgary Cat has been training ahead of the Vigil.
“He came out of the [Jacques Cartier] well,” he said. “He’s been training forwardly. He had a nice, easy breeze last weekend.”
KEY CONTENDERS
Calgary Cat (Last 3 Beyers: 99-97-95)
◗ The Vigil will mark just the fourth time in 17 career starts that Calgary Cat has been asked to go longer than 6 1/2 furlongs. He hasn’t run seven furlongs since winning his maiden as a 2-year-old in 2012. Attard said he isn’t concerned about the added distance in the Vigil.
“He won pretty authoritatively going 6 1/2 in the Bold Venture last year,” he said. “Obviously, seven furlongs is a different race than six, but I wouldn’t think right now that would be a problem.”
Black Hornet (Last 3 Beyers: 86-90-96)
◗ Black Hornet looms as the lone speed in this short field and has a win at this distance in the Queenston Stakes as a 3-year-old in 2013.
Puntrooskie (Last 3 Beyers: 87-90-84)
◗ He was fanned wide throughout the Jacques Cartier but did come with a rally down the stretch to finish third. He should get a much better trip in the Vigil with the smaller field.
Za Approval (Last 3 Beyers: 83-97-95)
◗ Za Approval will cut back slightly in distance and will make his synthetic debut in the Vigil.
◗ He was a winner and earned a 97 Beyer Speed Figure in his only start at seven furlongs, albeit on the grass in the Real Courage Stakes at Belmont Park last September.
Pender Harbour (Last 3 Beyers: 83-76-87)
◗ Pender Harbour will make his first start of the year in the Vigil and comes into the race off a bullet work on Tuesday. He fired fresh against allowance company at this distance in his first start of 2014.