Woodbine: Uncaptured rolls into Vandal

ETOBICOKE, Ontario − Coming off a 5 1/2-length win in the Clarendon on June 30, Uncaptured looms as the one to beat in Saturday’s $150,000 Vandal Stakes at Woodbine.

A six-furlong race for Ontario-foaled 2-year-olds, the Vandal attracted a field of six, and Uncaptured is one of three from the barn of trainer Mark Casse, along with Calgary Cat and Dynamic Strike.

Uncaptured and Calgary Cat are owned by John Oxley. Casse said only one would start and that Calgary Cat is in more as a backup.

Uncaptured had been pegged as a prospect for Saratoga following his Clarendon romp but will stay at Woodbine for now.

“We’ve got a pretty strong gang at Saratoga, and if we didn’t run in the Vandal, his next race here wouldn’t be until the Swynford,” Casse said, referring to the open seven-furlong race that will be run Sept. 9.

In the meantime, Uncaptured will have to overcome the inside post as he looks to improve to 3 for 3.

“He breezed in a minute and change last week, and he looked like he was just galloping,” Casse said. “He looks like he could be a very special horse.”

Calgary Cat, who drew post 6, was fifth by 3 1/2 lengths in his debut in the six-furlong Colin here July 14 after breaking poorly and getting shut off early on the backstretch.

“He had enough trouble in his first start to make up for about five starts,” Casse said.

Patrick Husbands has been named on Uncaptured and Calgary Cat, and Luis Contreras has the call on Dynamic Sky. Casse said he likes Dynamic Sky but that the colt is “probably not up to the caliber of these right now.”

“He’s eligible for the yearling sales stakes, and it’s important that he gets a race before that,” Casse said.
The Simcoe, a 6 1/2-furlong race for 2-year-old colts and geldings, will be one of six yearling sales stakes here Sept. 3 and offers a purse of $200,000.

River Seven was beaten nine lengths by Uncaptured in his debut in the Clarendon and should give a better accounting of himself this time around.

“He won’t be spotting them as many lengths as he did last time,” said Martha Gonzalez, wife and assistant to Nick Gonzalez, who trains River Seven. “He had the 1-hole, and just kind of stood there. He kind of fell asleep in there. But he made up quite a lot of ground, and it was very educational for him. He learned he can’t have everything his own way.”

Emma-Jayne Wilson retains the mount on River Seven, who drew post 5 for the Vandal.

Completing the field are Weather Bill, winner of a restricted 5 1/2-furlong maiden race in his July 15 debut, and Towncat, who dropped to the $32,000 claiming level in his second start and won by a length at five furlongs.