Gierkink's preview: Hard to look past Seffeara in Vandal
Seffeara odds-on in Vandal Stakes
The race office had a hard time rounding up horses for the $150,000 Vandal, and longshot supplements Pulpego and Best Offer made it a five-horse field of Ontario-bred 2-year-olds. Seffeara (4-5) should be tough to beat off his track record-breaking debut score and his workmanlike win in the Clarendon Stakes, in which he gave up the lead early in the stretch before coming back on to prevail with a 66 Beyer.
Seffeara has a license to be more dominant in this six-furlong dash than he was in the Clarendon, according to trainer Steve Owens.
“Off his track-record performance, he had a shin issue going on, so we didn’t train him hard and came up to the [Clarendon] pretty easy,” Owens said. “I’ve trained him a little harder for this race, because he’s a big horse and he’s starting to stretch out. He’s been right on schedule.”
The other two entrants figure to battle it out for second. Imperial Dream (8-5) is adding Lasix off a five-length debut score where he earned a 62 Beyer. Sky Racer (7-2) faded to fifth in the Clarendon, after racing outside in a stalking position. He could assume the role of pacemaker, in the manner of six-length maiden victory, for which he got a 72 Beyer.
Sky Classic Stakes
Reigning Canadian male turf champion Forte Dei Marmi (3-1) seeks his third consecutive victory in the Grade 2 Sky Classic. He prefers a little give in the ground, and the rain in the forecast for Saturday afternoon could make for ideal conditions for the durable veteran, who failed to crack the top three in four outings this year.
Aldous Snow, the 2-1 morning-line favorite, won his first stakes July 6 in the Grade 3 Singspiel, in his second start as a gelding. He was hard-ridden from the half-mile pole to the wire in that 12-furlong marathon by Javier Castellano, who was in town to ride in the Queen’s Plate. David Moran, Woodbine’s leading turf rider, should be an able replacement on the Sam-Son Farm homebred, who is trained by Malcolm Pierce.
Dynamic Sky (4-1) has evolved into an effective grass runner this year for trainer Mark Casse, who swept both turf stakes here last Sunday. Dynamic Sky overcame a troubled trip to finish second last out in the Grade 2 Nijinsky, behind Arlington Million entrant Up With the Birds.
Five Iron (8-1) and Reporting Star (6-1) could link up in a front-end battle, although it wouldn’t be surprising if Five Iron is scratched in favor of a different spot.
Money Talker (15-1) is stepping up off a convincing score in an 11-furlong optional claimer, and could be along to pick up some of the pieces.
Jackpot Hi 5 carryover building
The Jackpot Hi 5 carryover heading into the 10th race is $194,519.
Turnbacks have fared okay on the grass here, and Truvi fits the bill in this $50,000 maiden sprint off a prominent third in her first turf experience traveling a mile. In a large field, Truvi drew well in post 1 with Omar Moreno riding for trainer Carla Chrisoffersen.
FORMULATOR FACT: Chrisoffersen has won at a 19 percent clip with horses going from a route to a sprint over the past five years, with a return on investment of $1.53.