Bison City and Yearling Sales Stakes Highlight Woodbine Weekend

Three winners and three maidens form the six-pack of Canadian-bred fillies competing Saturday in the $250,000 Bison City Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Tiara. The Woodbine Oaks on August 1 was the first leg of the Tiara and it was won by Munnyfor Ro who came back to be fourth in the Queen’s Pate behind Safe Conduct.

Munnyfor Ro has obviously bypassed the Bison City and that leaves the race open to Oaks 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place finishers Emmeline, Il Malocchio or Youens or hotshot newcomer, the unbeaten Miss Speedy or perhaps Miss Marie and invader Cielo D’Oro.

MISS SPEEDY, a big daughter of Souper Speedy – Miss Dorothy by Stormin Fever, made a sensational career debut on July 10 at 5 1/2 furlongs, coming from 10th to win by almost four lengths for Barry and Ryan Kerbel and trainer Denyse McClachrie. Gary Barber and Mark cases came a’calling soon after and a majority share in the dark bay was sold to Barber. Casse sent the filly out 13 days ago for a 1 1/16 mile allowance/optional race and she galloped to a four length win with a whopping 90 Beyer Speed Figure according to Daily Racing Form.

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Gary Boulanger rides Miss Speedy, who was bred by Linda Mason, and they start from post 1.

Emmeline, runner-up in this year’s Woodbine Oaks presented by Budweiser, was bred by Bill Graham and actually comes into the race off three consecutive runner-up efforts, including a game performance in the Oaks.

Sent to the lead in the Oaks on tapeta, Emmeline, who will once again have Emma-Jayne Wilson in the irons, surrendered the lead in the stretch drive to eventual winner and recent Queen’s Plate fourth-place finisher Munnyfor Ro, but dug in to finish a nose ahead of Il Malocchio for the place award.

Trainer John Mattine is hoping the Violence – Babcock by Uncle Mo dark bay, owned by RCC Racing Stable Ltd. and Realm Racing Stables, can go one better and break her maiden in style on Saturday.

“She’s a gutsy filly. I was impressed that she dug in and still carried on in the Oaks. She raced very well. We were really proud of her and really happy with her performance. A nice horse beat her.”

The Ontario-bred launched her career with a pair of starts last August at the Toronto oval, both yielding fourth-place results. Emmeline concluded her 2-year-old campaign with a third, at 57-1, in the 1 1/16-mile main track Princess Elizabeth Stakes.

Her current three-race runner-up run began with her 3-year-old debut on June 19.

“We’ll just keep trying,” said Mattine. “She’s still a maiden, but we’re just so proud of her. She was stakes-placed at two, and she’s stakes-placed at three. You can never complain about any horse that tries, at any level. Nice horses have beaten her, too. Let’s give them credit. She’s a very-laid back filly in the barn, just very classy. We’re very happy to have her.”

A $16,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland September in 2019, the filly also has a 2-year-old half sister, Interstatedaydream, who was recently second in the Grade 2 Adirondack Stakes at Saratoga.

Emma-Jayne Wilson, in the midst of a strong season, won the 2010 edition of the Bison City with Free Fee Lady and the 2015 running with Brooklynsway.

Il Malocchio was a solid third in the Oaks and Franco Meli’s homebred by Souper Speedy should enjoy returning to the slightly shorter 1 1/16 miles. Youens, an American Pharoah filly, was fourth in the Oaks despite getting very washy pre-race. Miss Marie won her maiden in her second career race but was sixth in the Oaks. Newcomer Cielo D’Oro, by Sky Mesa, comes in from California for owner David Anderson who bred the filly. Cielo D’Oro raced for Paul and Karen Eggert and has placed three times in seven races, all on turf. Anderson and Don Ferguson recently acquired the filly and she is trained by Catherine Day Phillips.

The $250,000 Wonder Where Stakes, the final leg of the Triple Tiara, is scheduled for 1 ¼-miles on the E.P Taylor Turf Course on October 2 at Woodbine.

SUNDAY’S YEARLING SALES STAKES RACES usher in CTHS Ontario’s yearling sale week with the Canadian Premier sale on Sept. 1. Yearling can be inspected beginning Monday, August 30.

ALGOMA STAKES – Race 4 – 3-year-old fillies, 7 furlongs – LORENA, winner of the seven furlong Fury Stakes, will look to get back to winning after she failed the Woodbine Oaks test, fading after leading for much of the 1 1/8 miles. The Souper Speedy gal has the best speed for the long, sprint distance in the field of nine.

ELGIN STAKES – Race 6, 3-year-olds, colts and gelding, 7 furlongs – Ivan Dalos’ MASON’S GAMBLE, unbeaten in two races this year, squares off against SECRET RESERVE, a winner of a fast race over older horses last month and impressive debut winner JELGO.

MUSKOKA STAKES – Race 8, $200,000 – 2-year-old fillies, 6 1/2 furlongs – A big field of 12 gals includes winners, maidens and beginners. FOREST B (Old Forester) won her maiden for Al and Bill Ulwelling on July 31 using her sharp speed style. She stretches out from 5 furlongs. BAKSHEESH is improving quickly for trainer Ralph Biamonte and has late power and placed fillies Thatsithatsall and Exit Stage Right are also in the race.

SIMCOE STAKES – Race 10, $200,000 – 2-year-old colts & geldings, 6 1/2 furlongs. Another big field of babies, 11 in this one and there is just one winner in the field, CHAIRMAN BOB. The Society’s Chairman colt had a super debut as he came from post one and last place and blew past the field to win by 1 1/4 lengths. He drew post one again for Al and Bill Ulwelling.

Of the 10 maidens, the quick SUMMER SUNSET drops out of an open stakes race and beginner WHERE’S NEAL, from the Dan Vella barn, is a half-brother to Bison City starter Miss Speedy.