Uncaged Fury Holds On to Win Inverness Drive

Uncaged Fury, a 3-year-old running in his first stakes, won the $55,000 Inverness Drive Wednesday. Ridden by Chris McCarron, he held off the late-rushing Flying Sensation to take the 6 1/2-furlong race.

In his brief career, Uncaged Fury has three victories and a second. He had broken his maiden at Hollywood Park, moved up to allowance company and a second place before winning an allowance race earlier in the Del Mar meeting.

“He’s got a tremendous burst of speed,” trainer Lewis Cenicola said, “but he’s not seasoned yet.”

The “seasoned” horses in this field were Winning Pact, 1993 Del Mar Futurity winner, and Fu Man Slew, third in a Grade II stakes at Laurel in July. Fu Man Slew was the 7-5 favorite; Winning Pact was 9-5.

Fu Man Slew went to the lead with Dream Trapp on his inside, but McCarron had Uncaged Fury positioned nicely in third on the rail. By the far turn, Uncaged Fury was on the lead and Winning Pact was being moved up on the outside by Corey Nakatani. Uncaged Fury seemed to get a second wind and needed only to contend with Flying Sensation’s big stretch run.

Appropriately, on a day of upsets, Uncaged Fury paid $20 for the victory. Flying Sensation was followed by Fu Man Slew and Winning Pact.