Winnipeg-born ADAM ISFELD only got into owning racehorses a year ago and one of his first horses was an $8,000 claim on Sept. 24, 2020. On that day, Isfeld, through trainer Robert VanOverschot, put in a claim slip for the class-dropping UNCHARACTERISTIC, a grey Kentucky-bred by British Columbia stallion Texas Wildcatter (Monarchos). The gelding won at 2 to 5 in that 3 1/2 furlong maiden race in the mud and was put away until the spring of 2021.
One year later, that 3-year-old gelding is now a two-time western Derby winner, having taken the Grade 3 Canadian Derby on Sept. 11 at Century Mile. In his previous race, Uncharacteristic won Winnipeg’s biggest race, the Manitoba Derby.
Not only was Isfeld winning the Canadian Derby for the first time, but so was VanOverschot, a career winner of 512 races who has been based at Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver for much of his career.
And for jockey Alexander Marti, who hails from Mendoza, Argentina, is was also his biggest win in the midst of a career season as a rider after some struggles in recent years. Marti began riding in North America in 2011 at Woodbine and moved to BC the following year. He did not ride in 2016 and had only a handful of mounts in 2017 and 2018 but has grown his portfolio since then. This year he has 44 wins and has 37 at Hastings, third in the standings.
Uncharacteristic had a beautiful trip in the 1 1/4 mile Derby as he stalked an early pace battle between Smart Play and 8 to 5 favourite Myopic, trained by Robertino Diodoro. With Marti keeping his grey gelding under a snug hold, Myopic and Smart Play continued their tussle into the final turn and into the stretch but when Marti angled his horse out, he slowly gained on the pair and edged clear to win by three-quarters of a length over Myopic. Smart Play held third over a closing Bodemonster. The time for 1 1/4 miles was 2:04.16 and Uncharacteristic paid $9.20.
Isfeld told the Edmonton Sun, “He’s one of those horses that is special because he’s learning and growing and he’s just continuing to get better. He’s got so much heart, and he just doesn’t run out of gas.”
British Columbia racing and breeding are hailing Uncharacteristic as their own since the winner was bred by leading owner and trainer Glen Todd, who bred him in Kentucky. The sire, Texas Wildcatter, is owned by Todd and stands at Canmor Farms in Aldergrove. Texas Wildcatter was stakes placed seven times including second place finishes in the Grade 3 Gothman Stakes at Aqueduct and Canadian Derby in 2008. He entered stud in 2011.
Uncharacteristic, with three wins in six races and earnings of $186,721, is the first foal of two-time winner My Kentucky Rose, a daughter of Macho Uno. The mare’s second foal is Wine Taster, a 2-year-old winner this year.
The Canadian Derby card yielded a new record for handle at Century Mile of $1,495,209.97 on a 10-race card to beat the previous record of $1,361,878.
More from News:
