Performance of the Week: River Seven

Although a graded stakes winner at 2 and the runner-up in two legs of this year’s Canadian Triple Crown, River Seven was getting a bridesmaid’s reputation. Despite obvious potential, the gelding usually found at least one better on any given day.

Last Saturday belonged to River Seven, however, as he skipped over yielding turf in a domination of eight rivals in the $100,000 Labeeb Stakes, contested over a one-turn mile at Woodbine.

Breaking from post 2, River Seven, dismissed at 10-1, was sent up along the inside under jockey Jesse Campbell to dispute the pace with longshots Danger Bay and Days Ride. After early fractions of 24.32 and 47.96 seconds, River Seven faced a brief challenge from Grand Arch, Grade 2-placed in his prior two appearances.

River Seven cut the corner smartly into the stretch, though, and began to widen his advantage. He was all alone at the finish, 10 lengths better than Grand Arch. Among the stragglers were multiple Grade 3 winner Hunters Bay, making his first start since finishing second to Wise Dan in the 2012 Woodbine Mile, and multiple stakes winner Hotep.

River Seven completed the eight furlongs over the very wet course in 1:38.81 and received a career-best 105 Beyer Speed Figure. Considering the conditions, that number may best be taken with a grain of salt.

River Seven is by Johannesburg, who went undefeated from seven starts as a 2-year-old in 2001. That year, Johannesburg won Grade 1 or Group 1 races in four countries (England, Ireland, France, and the United States) and capped off his season by taking the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Johannesburg scored on turf and dirt and won at distances ranging from five furlongs to 1 1/16 miles. Johannesburg is the sire of North American Grade 1 winner Scat Daddy, who won the Champagne Stakes and Florida Derby.

River Seven is out of Sans Souci Island, a Chester House mare who won the $150,000 Carotene Stakes traveling 1 1/8 miles over Woodbine turf. Sans Souci Island is a half-sister to stakes-placed turf performer Nomistakeaboutit. Considering the European grass influences deeper in this pedigree, it isn’t surprising that River Seven enjoys the surface.

Bred by William D. Graham, River Seven was foaled in Ontario on Feb. 11, 2010. He was purchased for $80,000 at the 2011 Keeneland September yearling auction and was bought by Tucci Stables for $60,000 at Fasig Tipton the following March.

Sent to trainer Nick Gonzalez, River Seven was stakes-placed in his first two races, a pair of $150,000 Polytrack sprints in which he faced the precocious Uncaptured. In the Vandal Stakes, River Seven’s second start, he finished well ahead of Dynamic Sky, a colt who would return to win the $200,000 Simcoe Stakes before finishing second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland.

River Seven was fully expected to win his third start at 2, a maiden special weight going one mile and 70 yards, but he was upset at odds-on by Tesseron. Five weeks later, River Seven turned the tables on Tesseron and Uncaptured, beating them in the Grade 3 Grey Stakes at 1 1/16 miles.

Uncaptured returned from his first loss to take both the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes and the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs.

By virtue of his Grey victory, River Seven was considered one of the leading early contenders for the 2013 Queen’s Plate, but he suffered a minor setback that kept him away from the races until the $150,000 Queenston Stakes on May 11. River Seven finished two lengths behind the speedy Black Hornet in that seven-furlong key race, and he had one more prep before the Queen’s Plate. In that race, the $150,000 Plate Trial on June 9, he lost all chance after stumbling badly at the start.

The Plate was disastrous for River Seven. He drew the outside post in the field of 12 and dropped back steadily after five furlongs.

Since the Plate, River Seven has moved away from Polytrack and responded with some good efforts. In the Prince of Wales on dirt at Fort Erie, he made the front in the stretch, only to be run down late by the favored Uncaptured.

Nineteen days later, River Seven ran very well in his turf debut, the Breeders’ Stakes at Woodbine, but was second to the impressive Up With the Birds, who returned to win the Grade 1 Jamaica Handicap at Belmont.

Dropping into an entry-level allowance race at 1 1/8 miles on turf Sept. 29, River Seven continued to suffer from seconditis. Up close to the pace, he poked his head in front but couldn’t beat back the favored Golden Sabre’s late bid.

It’s quite possible that the yielding turf course was just what the doctor ordered. River Seven is a talented horse, but handicappers must decide whether he is improving at the right time, or whether the ground made him look like a world beater in the Labeeb. Either way, he is worth stashing on watch lists.