Vaquero back on Polytrack

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Vaquero, the sixth-place finisher in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, has shipped up from Kentucky for Saturday's $150,000 Display Stakes at Woodbine.

The 1 1/16-mile route for 2-year-olds is the first leg of the pick six, which has a mandatory payout on the next to last day of the meet. Sunday's closing day card will not offer a pick six.

Vaquero won his maiden going a mile over Turfway's Polytrack on Sept. 6, and subsequently finished fourth in the Grade 3 Bourbon Stakes on the grass at Keeneland.

Vaquero was beaten five lengths after making a four-wide move in the Oct. 25 BC Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita.

"He came out of the race in great shape," said trainer Michael Leahy. "It wasn't the run we had hoped for. He got bunched up going into the first turn, but he was flying at the end."

Trainer Mark Casse sends out Shafted and Oconee in the Display.

Shafted, a son of Mineshaft, prevailed in his only start at a mile and 70 yards in October, despite running greenly.

"I thought he didn't do anything right, and was still able to win," said Casse. "He has the potential to become a pretty decent horse. The Mineshafts tend to get better after they run three or four times. I wanted to come back in an allowance, but the races didn't fill."

Oconee graduated second-time out in July, before ending up second in the Silver Deputy Stakes. He battled on the lead most recently before giving way late to Bear's Rocket, when second in a mile-and-70-yard allowance.

"I honestly didn't think that they'd beat him last time," said Casse. "They ran pretty fast early, and he put a horse away, and then [Bear's Rocket] came and beat him."

Trainer Reade Baker entered three horses - Bear's Rocket, Saint Reade, and the maiden D' Artagnan.

Bear's Rocket earned a 73 Beyer Speed Figure when he captured that allowance in his sixth and most recent start Oct. 24.

Saint Reade won his maiden in his second try Oct. 16, in a mile-and-70-yard maiden special, while registering a 64 Beyer.