Win and Reign wins first career race in stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Win and Reign won his maiden with determination Sunday at Woodbine in the $150,000 Vandal Stakes, a six-furlong sprint for Ontario-foaled 2-year-olds.

Win and Reign ($22.20) broke sharply under David Clark and then dueled with another maiden, Silver Rocket, through moderate fractions.

Win and Reign took control at the eighth pole, and held off a wide-closing El Brujo to prevail by a neck, in a time of 1:10.88. Silver Rocket held third, Mean Green was fourth, and favored Bucephaus faded in the stretch to trail the five-horse field.

Win and Reign earned $90,000 in his second outing for Hillsbrook Farm and trainer Nick Gonzalez.

"In his first start, he ran a little green and got a little tired," Clark said. "Today, he was much more professional. We didn't really plan on going to the lead, but nobody else wanted it, and we ended up there."

* Augustin Stable, jockey Chantal Sutherland and trainer Mac Benson combined for their second stakes win of the weekend in Sunday's supporting feature when favored Ice Bear won the Ontario Jockey Club Stakes by a nose over Marchfield.

Ice Bear ($6.10) completed nine furlongs in 1:50.44 in the $100,400 OJC, which was taken off the grass and run on the Polytrack.

Augustin, Sutherland, and Benson also took Saturday's Duchess Stakes with Sugar Bay.