Robert Marzilli’s Caren went gate to wire to capture Sunday’s $250,000 Bison City Stakes, second leg of the filly Triple Tiara, at Woodbine.
Trained by Mike DePaulo, Caren arrived at the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta test from a gritty third-place run in the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks, presented by Budweiser, when defeated just two lengths by Neshama after having set a strong pace.
The ultra-consistent Society’s Chairman bay showed no ill effects from her Oaks performance and came back baring teeth for the Bison City. A winner of four stakes as a juvenile, all in front-running fashion, Caren once again stepped to the lead through moderate splits of :25.45 and :50.32 under regular pilot Jesse Campbell.
Neshama, the Oaks winner, tracked from second position throughout but Caren picked up steam through the final turn as Crumlin Spirit and Trini Brewnette launched their rally from the back of the pack. In front by 3 1/2-lengths at the top of the lane, Caren sprinted clear of her rivals to earn a length win in 1:45.47. Trini Brewnette rallied from last of seven to finish second by a head over Neshama.
It was the first victory of the season for Caren who finished second in both the Lady Angela and Grade 3 Selene Stakes at Woodbine after arriving home from a winter spent in Florida.
“She finally got a little racing luck and it went a little bit more her way. She showed what kind of horse she is,” said Campbell. “Pace makes the race, but if they make her go :47 she’s going to go down swinging anyway. She’s a little piece of iron. She had a (great) two-year-old campaign and the way she trains and her attitude, she’s a tough cookie. She has talent to boot. It’s a tough combo.”
A winner of the Shady Well, Nandi, Victorian Queen and Princess Elizabeth Stakes in a terrific juvenile campaign, the filly could be in line for her second career turf start in the Wonder Where Stakes, third leg of the filly Triple Tiara, which is slated for Sunday, August 7.
Caren’s only juvenile defeat came on the turf last season when third in the Grade 2 Natalma Stakes won by eventual Horse of the Year, Catch a Glimpse. DePaulo will consider all options for Caren ahead of the 1 1/4-mile turf stake.
“It’s a possibility. We’ll have to see what else is available for her. She loves turf. If they left her alone, maybe she’d get a mile and a quarter, we’ll have to see,” said DePaulo.
Caren, bred in Ontario by James A. Everatt, Janeane A. Everatt & J. Arika Everatt-Meeuse, banked $150,000 in victory while improving her record to 6-2-2 from 11 starts.
She paid $4.70, $3.40 and $2.50, combining with Trini Brewnette ($9.60, $5) for a $38 (4-6) exactor. A 4-6-5 triactor (Neshama, $2.80 to show) was worth $113.70, while a $1 Superfecta [4-6-5-2 (Meadow Rose)] came back $257.30.
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