by Jeff Apel

Disfunction gained command with a three-wide bid on the turn and gave trainer Julia Carey her first stakes win with a three-quarter-length victory in the $153,746 Vigil Stakes (Can-G3) on Monday at Woodbine.

Forcing the early pace, Disfunction raced in third through an opening quarter in :22.31 in his stakes debut. Moving up on the backstretch, the Vying Victor gelding opened a 2 1/2-length lead in early stretch and earned his first stakes win in the seven-furlong race in 1:20.51, a track record for Woodbine’s all-weather Polytrack surface. The previous record of 1:20.54 was set by Verne’s Baby on September 20, 2006.

Carey said four-year-old Disfunction has shown steady improvement since posting a debut win in a $20,000 maiden claiming race on September 20 at Woodbine.

“He’s been a surprise to us all along. I never dreamed he would be this good,” Carey said. “He was really green at the beginning and won it spite of it. He’s just learning a lot and getting better.”

Lake Secret and Sail From Seattle dueled for the early lead in a field of nine older horses. Disfunction seized command on the backstretch and opened a half-length lead through a swift half-mile in :43.75.

Kicking clear on the turn under jockey Emile Ramsammy, Disfunction turned back a late bid from runner-up Storm Caller in the closing strides.

Sent off at 36.10-to-1 odds, multiple Grade 3-placed winner Storm Caller finished 1 3/4 lengths in front of multiple stakes winner Dancer’s Bajan. Alezzandro, Canada’s 2007 champion three-year-old male, finished sixth as the 1.95-to-1 favorite in his first start in more than seven months.

Disfunction has won three of four starts this season. The dark bay or brown gelding entered off a 6 1/2-length win in a seven-furlong allowance/optional claiming race on April 19 at Woodbine.

Disfunction earned his fifth win in eight starts and increased his earnings to $208,736. Bred by Bob Cheema, he is one of five winners from six starters out of the winning Gold Crest mare Summers Prospect.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Jeff Apel is assistant daily news editor for Thoroughbred Times