Maiden River Seven handed previously undefeated Uncaptured his first loss in five races while producing a 7-1 upset in the $229,678 Grey Stakes (Can-III) for 2-year-olds at Woodbine Oct. 7 (VIDEO) .
Trained by Nick Gonzalez for Tucci Stables, the improving son of Johannesburg won the 1 1/16-mile Grey by three-quarters of a length with Eurico Rosa Da Silva aboard. Patrick Husbands, riding the 2-5 favorite Uncaptured, claimed foul against River Seven for interference in the stretch but stewards disallowed it.
Uncaptured faded to fifth after checking in the lane, creating some huge show payoffs. River Seven paid $16.60, $7.80, and $18, combining with 7-2 shot Tesseron ($5, $14.50) for a $47.80 exacta. Indiano Jones, off at 21-1, paid $45.20 to show and completed a $389.50 trifecta.
River Seven, who was beaten by Uncaptured in both the Clarendon and Vandal stakes to begin his career, was timed in 1:43.98 over the Polytrack.
Wiliam Graham bred River Seven in Ontario. A $60,000 Fasig-Tipton Florida select sale of 2-year-olds in training purchase in March, the bay gelding is out of the stakes-winning Chester House mare Sans Souci Island.
In the Grey Stakes field of six, Five Iron pulled his way to an early 1 1/2-length advantage and led River Seven through soft early splits of :24.58, :48.83, and 1:12.61.
River Seven, drawing to within a half-length nearing the quarter pole, dueled with the pacesetter into the stretch and gained a narrow advantage while angled out a bit. With Five Iron to his inside and Tesseron to the outside, River Seven gradually edged away form his rivals and was in control late.
Tesseron, who defeated River Seven by a half-length in a maiden heat Sept. 3 at Woodbine, finished well under Justin Stein to gain the place spot. The late-running Indiano Jones, ridden by Luis Contreras, was a neck behind Tesseron in third.
"He broke sharp," said Da Silva, of River Seven. "He was ready. He sat very close to the lead. My horse never stopped kicking in.
Uncaptured, stalking the pace in fourth, was racing wide in the stretch but still in contention when he was checked by Husbands behind River Seven. Five Iron, Uncaptured, and Mercenary completed the order of finish.
Star Contender scratched.
With his first win in four tries, River Seven earned $147,125 and boosted his bankroll to $206,864.
