Grey Stakes Racing Roundup

Uncaptured is undefeated in four starts, winning several of the major stakes races for Canadian 2-year-old colts, and today he’ll put his put his record on the line when the goes to the starting gate as the morning line even-money favorite in the 106^th running of the $200,000 Grey Stakes (G3) at Woodbine racetrack.

In May, Uncaptured won his maiden debut by a nose and since that squeaker he’s followed up with a 5½-length romp in the Clarendon Stakes, a one-length win in the Vandal Stakes, and a 3¼-length victory in the Swynford Stakes.

Today’s race is Uncaptured’s debut in graded-stakes competition and his first attempt to run a route of ground. But with Lion Heart as his sire and Arch as his damsire, he should be able to easily stretch out to 8½-furlongs.

As a 2-year-old, Lion Heart won the 7-furlong Hollywood Prevue Stakes (G3) and the 8½-furlong Hollywood Futurity (G1). Arch was a pretty good middle-distance runner who was able to stretch out to win 10-furlong Super Derby (G1).

If Uncaptured repeats the form of his previous races, he’ll be tough to beat.

Uncaptured is trained by Mark Casse who also has Indiano Jones (10-1) and Star Contender (12-1) entered in the Grey Stakes (G3). Of those two, I like Indiano Jones the best.

In his second start, Indiano Jones broke his maiden by 1¼-lengths in a 7-furlong sprint race at Woodbine on August 19. His time for the race of 1:22.87 in on par with Uncaptured’s 1:22.49 that he set in the Swynford Stakes. Indiano Jones followed up his maiden win with a third-place finish in the Summer Stakes (G2) where he was beaten by two lengths.

With A.P. Indy as his sire and Touch Gold as his damsire, Indiano Jones has the breeding to be competitive in today’s race but he’ll have to improve his game if he’s going to earn graded stakes honors.

In three starts, River Seven (4-1) is still a maiden but he’s improved his game with each start and I don’t look for him to be a maiden much longer.

In his maiden debut, River Seven finished third by nine lengths to Uncaptured in the Clarendon Stakes. He narrowed the margin in his next race and was a one-length runner-up to Uncaptured in the Vandal Stakes.

In his third start and first route race, River Seven encountered traffic problems at the top of the stretch but rallied to finish second by a half-length to Tesseron (3-1) who is also entered in today’s race.

Johannesburg, the sire of River Seven, was a pretty good middle-distance horse that won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stakes (G1). Chester House, the damsire of River Seven, was a multiple Group Stakes Champion in England. He did his best racing at 10-furlongs winning such prestigious races as the Brigadier Gerard Stakes (G3), Huxley Stakes (G1) and Arlington Million Stakes (G1).

If River Seven continues to move forward, he should be able to stretch out and be competitive in the Grey Stakes (G3).

Kentucky Derby 2013 Leaderboard

(Updated October 7, 2012)

 

Individual Leaders, total points

Joha, 10

Power Broker, 10

River Seven, 10

Shanghai Bobby, 10

Steeler, 10

Artigiano, 4

Dynamic Sky, 4

Goldencents, 4

Know More, 4

Tesseron, 4

Al Waab, 2

Capo Bastone, 2

Fortify, 2

Indiano Jones, 2

Java’s War, 2

Archwarrior, 1

Carving, 1

Birdman, 1

Five Iron, 1

Pataky Kid, 1

Royal Lodge Stakes (Group 2), Newmarket, September 29, 2012

1. Steeler,10

2. Artigiano,4

3. Al Waab,2

4. Birdman,1

Frontrunner Stakes (G1), Santa Anita Park, September 29, 2012

1. Power Broker, 10

2. Know More, 4

3. Capo Bastone, 2

4. Carving, 1

Foxwoods Champagne Stakes (G1), Belmont Park, October 6, 2012

1. Shanghai Bobby, 10

2. Goldencents, 4

3. Fortify, 2

4. Archwarrior, 1

Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (G1), Keeneland, October 6, 2012

1. Joha, 10

2. Dynamic Sky, 4

3. Java’s War, 2

4. Pataky Kid, 1

Grey Stakes (G3), Woodbine, October 7, 2012

1. River Seven, 10

2. Tesseron, 4

3. Indiano Jones, 2

4. Five Iron, 1