Ghost Fleet rallies four wide to win Vandal

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Favored Ghost Fleet crushed a good field of 2-year-olds Sunday at Woodbine in the $151,600 Vandal Stakes, scoring by 4 3/4 lengths in the six-furlong dash.

Ghost Fleet raced on the outside in midpack on the backstretch, as Bold Canadian and Who's Big Daddy dueled through fractions of 22.48 seconds and 45.63.

Ghost Fleet commenced a four-wide rally on the turn, and then hit the front early in the stretch before drawing away to cover the distance in 1:09.64. Takiddim beat out Mobthewarrior by a neck for second in the nine-horse field of Ontario-breds.

"This horse is very professional," said Todd Kabel, who rode Ghost Fleet for trainer Sid Attard. "He's a very relaxed horse. You can put him anywhere you want. He's just all business."

Ghost Fleet ($5.30) earned $90,000 for Jim Dandy Stable, and is now unbeaten in two starts.

* Sterwins ($3.60) captured Sunday's $100,000 With Approval Stakes for the second time in the last three years under Patrick Husbands. In a rare Woodbine stakes that was taken off the grass, Sterwins covered nine furlongs on the Polytrack in 1:49.74.