Monday May 18th, 2009 - The Vigil Stakes Gr. III, Four-Year-Olds and Upward, Seven Furlongs

History Lesson: The Vigil Stakes Gr. III was first run as the Vigil Handicap at Fort Erie Racetrack in 1956 at a distance of five and one-half furlongs. The race had been run up to a mile and a sixteenth until 1980 when it was set at its current distance of seven furlongs and is raced at the Toronto oval over synthetic polytrack. There have been six horses to win the Vigil in back-to-back fashion, starting back in '58,'59 with Nearctic then again over thirty years later in '89, '90 when Mr. Hot Shot would complete the feat. The latest horse to win two years in a row was Judith's Wild Rush in 2005 and 2006. Currently the race record is also the Woodbine polytrack record at seven furlongs in a time of 1:20.51 set by Disfunction in the '08 edition of the Vigil.

Vigil Stakes Gr. III, 2009: This year's race is a very competitive field of eleven older, accomplished and talented horses, which will provide even more excitement to the May long weekend. Past champions of the sprint return to face off. Disfunction, the current record holder at seven furlongs and '08 Vigil winner, Just Rushing won this event in '07, and Judith's Wild Rush had won the race twice in a row in 2005 and '06. Along with that story is the rematch of the Jacques Cartier Stakes on April 25th/09; four horses within a length of each other at the wire, Disfunction, Shadowless, Field Commission, and Timely Advice will all vie for the $150,000 purse and don't forget about the ship-ins Passager(Fr) and Rebellion(GB), both very much in the hunt for the win.

Here is a look at the field by post position:

1 D Flutie by Langfuhr out of Forest Flute(Woodman) Own: Gustav Schickedanz, Trainer: Mike Keogh, Jockey: Constant Montpellier

2 Judith's Wild Rush by Wild Rush out of Tie Talk(Black Tie Affair(IRE)) Own: Tenenbaum Racing Stables, Trainer: Reade Baker, Jockey: Eurico Rosa Da Silva

3 Wollemi Pine by Aljabr out of Toogie Pine(Pine Bluff) Own: Kinghaven Farms, H. Clarke and G. Thompson, Trainer: Ian Black, Jockey: Emma-Jayne Wilson

4 Passager(Fr) by Anabaa out of Passionnee(Woodman) Own: Johanna Louise Glen-Teven, Trainer: Roger Attfield, Jockey: Jono Jones

5 Shadowless by Stormy Atlantic out of Life in Fiction(Whiskey Wisdom) Own: Heather Takahashi, Trainer: David R. Bell, Jockey: Justin Stein

6 Just Rushing by Wild Rush out of Daybydaybyday(Shananee) Own: Tucci Stables, Trainer: Sid C. Attard, Jockey: Patrick Husbands

7 Field Commission by Service Stripe out of Tearfull Moment(Schossberg) Own: E. Seltzer and D. Vella, Trainer: Daniel J. Vella, Jockey: Tyler Pizarro

8 Disfunction by Vying Victor out of Summers Prospect(Gold Crest) Own: JMJ's Stable and Weila Ye, Trainer: Julia Carey, Jockey: Emile Ramsammy

9 Dozen Dancer by Chief Seattle out of Prairie Dancer(Dumaani) Own: George Robertson, Trainer: Tony Mattine, Jockey: Chantal Sutherland

10 Timely Advice by A.P. Indy out of Confessional(Holy Bull) Own: Pin Oak Stable, Trainer: Malcolm Pierce, Jockey: James McAleney

11 Rebellion(GB) by Mozart(Ire) out of Last Resort(GB)(Lahib) Own: Hickory Tree Stable, Trainer: Graham H. Motion, Jockey: Edgar Prado

The Skinny: Wow! The Vigil Stakes Gr.III looks up for grabs this year. A nice field of talent, but, who to pick? A process of elimination could work here, like a multiple choice quiz. Start with the least likely to win.

Mike Keogh's having a great start to the 2009 meet, but, can't like his horse D Flutie in this one. D Flutie has somewhat under-achieved and comes into the Vigil with only one career win. The son of Langfuhr and full-brother to three-year-old stakes filly Woodsmoke, has a record of 12-1-2-2 with $73,940 in the bank, hardly intimidating to the competition. In two starts this season D Flutie has run well, with the first start being excusable with repeated checks throughout, until finally finding room down the stretch, but much too late. His second start was much better in a second place effort that would see D Flutie needing a little more room in the closing of the six furlong event. The distance of seven-eighths of a mile will help here, but don't expect to see him in the money with this group of foes.

Dozen Dancer is sent out by longtime Woodbine conditioner Tony Mattine. This is a huge mountain to climb for this horse second time off the shelf in '09, though, he has raced and vied well against foes Disfunction and Field Commission in the past. A four-time winner in eight tries with earnings eclipsing 160k, Dozen Dancer has mostly raced against allowance company throughout his racing career. The grandson of Seattle Slew is in a difficult spot on this day, looking elsewhere.

Kinghaven Farms trainer Ian Black has a nice competitor in Wollemi Pine. The five-year-old gray has been very successful at Woodbine, but for the most part, on the E.P. Taylor turf course. An earner of over 300k and five wins in twenty-three tries, Wollemi Pine is coming into this one as a longshot after he had a disappointing first start, in the Jacques Cartier Stakes, back in April. He should not be much of a factor here, but, look for this guy later in the season as the turf races start up at Woodbine.

Judith's Wild Rush is a two-time winner of this race and is the only million dollar earner of the group. Didn't look very sharp in his '09 Woodbine debut and is in for a rough go once again. The eight-year-old horse has not won a race in his last five attempts and has not had the Beyer figures he once drew up as a champion sprinter. He may have seen his day on the oval with his owners still hanging on to the past. He'll give it his best, but, it won't be enough against these guys.

Another eight-year-old in the fray is Sid Attard pupil Just Rushing. A very talented individual with a record of 32-14-4-6 and $869,645 career earnings, Just Rushing will come into the Vigil for his first race of the '09 campaign. Don't think he will be a major factor on this day as he should need to get this race into him for some conditioning, plus, this horse carries the most weight in here at 123lbs. Just Rushing won the Vigil in '07 and has faced some of the rivals here, in Wollemi Pine and Shadowless, with much success. Most of his earnings in 2008 were obtained on the turf, but, he is no stranger to the polytrack. Watch for this horse next time out.

Passager is sent out by Roger Attfield with much promise to pick up a cheque here. He has raced very well, to-date, with three starts in '09 down south in the States. Passager is a turf horse through and through and though he has raced on poly before, in France, he hasn't raced on the Woodbine oval, but, has worked over the surface honestly. His career earnings have surpassed 380k and his last two starts have shown incredible Beyers at 100 in each race. He's a player in here and the light 115lbs should be an advantage for the Attfield student. Still like him on the turf more so than this spot.

Field Commission is coming into the Vigil after a very game third place effort in the Jacques Cartier Stakes in April. He comes back to face foes Disfunction and Shadowless who would get up to pass him just before the wire in that race. Danny Vella's trainee has won at this distance before, but, he showed a little weakness late in that last start, which leaves one to ponder if he will have enough endurance to get it done on this day. Field Commission has been third or better in ten of his twelve career races and has earned over 230k. This will be his third straight stakes competition and will only carry 115lbs this time. Could be dangerous, skeptical.

Dave Bell sends out pupil Shadowless. The ever improving four-year-old was out-finished at the wire, a neck, by rival Disfunction in the Jacques Cartier. A career record of 15-4-4-4 and earnings of $318,612, Shadowless will be a huge contender in the Vigil. This is his third start off the shelf in '09 and he has posted Beyers of 91 and 97 in his first two races. The son of Stormy Atlantic will handle this distance with ease, but, can he hold off Disfunction in the late going? Expect a good race on this day, top five choice.

Malcolm Pierce is going to be looking for victory here as his trainee Timely Advice should improve drastically after the Jacques Cartier. The son of A.P. Indy finished the race in the fastest time and galloped out on top. Jim McAleney knows he just missed on that day and will certainly like his chances in the Vigil's distance. Once again, Timely Advice will carry 115lbs to his advantage and may come from off the pace to pass rivals down the stretch. This well-bred individual seems to be improving with every race as a four-year-old as he has put up two straight 95 Beyer performances and may just do better here. Top three, don't leave him out.

Graham Motion brings up the very talented and well decorated Rebellion. The six-year-old horse has been third or better in sixteen out of twenty-two lifetime starts with earnings over 790k. Dating back to '07, Rebellion has posted Beyer numbers in the 90's over is last eleven starts; talk about consistency. This guy has been placed in many graded races including a win in last year's Commonwealth Gr.II at Keenland, going seven furlongs and finished second in that same event this season. Rebellion has one of the best in North America on his back on this day in Edgar Prado, who has had success here before. Expect this one to push the field to their limit physically, as he will put in a huge bid for the wire down the stretch. Looks like a no brainer, but....

We come to Disfunction, the Julia Carey student who is turning into a monster with every race. He owns Woodbine's track record at seven furlongs and is two for two this season posting a 98 Beyer in the Jacques Cartier. Should go off as the favorite in the Vigil, mostly because the fact he is a home town hero. Hard to say how Disfunction will run, it depends on the trip. Ramsammy had to bide his time in their last start, getting up late to take the wire, and may have the same task in front of him here with such a big field. Expect nothing but the best effort from this five-year-old son of Vying Victor, who will look to pick up his ninth win in his fifteenth career start. Have to put this one on top.

My Picks: 8-11-10

Please feel free to leave your comments and picks for the 54th running of the Vigil Stakes Gr.III.