Sunday’s C$250,000
Bison City Stakes at Woodbine will not see either the
first- or second-place finisher from the June 9 Woodbine Oaks attempt the
second leg of Canada’s Triple Tiara for three-year-old fillies, but the 1
1/16-mile contest still only drew seven sophomore fillies.
With Nipissing and Spring in the Air both bypassing the Bison City for a run
against the boys in the Queen’s Plate on July 7, that could leave the way clear
for Original Script to take the top prize.
The Malibu Moon miss led throughout
the nine-furlong Woodbine Oaks before just being caught in the lane by the
previous two. Prior to that, the Paul Attard trainee won an allowance over the
Bison City distance, and her only off-the-board effort came when she tried a
conventional dirt surface in the Gulfstream Park Oaks to begin her sophomore
season on March 30.
Original Script made her juvenile finale a close second in the Ontario Lassie
after easily taking her initial two starts, and gets top jockey Jesse Campbell
back in the irons for Sunday’s affair.
Lining up against the gray filly will be, among others, Strut the Course.
That bay filly broke her maiden sprinting six furlongs last fall before running
third at that same distance in the Victorian Queen. She wrapped up her
two-year-old campaign by stretching out to 1 1/16 miles in the Princess
Elizabeth and was just caught in that event to wind up a half-length second.
Thus far this season Strut the Course has captured an allowance by 5 1/4
lengths and finished fourth in the Lady Angela, both at seven furlongs. Trainer
Barbara Minshall will try to stretch out her Strut the Stage filly once again in
the Bison City.
I’m a Kittyhawk was the winner of the Lady Angela last out on May 25, and
brings a two-race win streak into her route debut for conditioner Robert Creen.
The Tomahawk miss dropped her first start as a two-year-old, but has been
unbeatable in 2013. David Moran has been in the saddle for the filly’s
three-year-old campaign and the duo will try to remain perfect on Sunday.
Sarah Her Highness is by far the most experienced runner in the field,
already owning 12 starts. The bay daughter of Milwaukee Brew recorded most of
those last year, including placings in the Muskoka and Fanfreluche, and added a
third in the 1 1/16-mile Trillium to her resume just three weeks ago. Trainer
William Tharrenos will give a leg up to jockey Luis Contreras on Sarah Her
Highness.
Smartyfly’s one attempt at a route of ground resulted in her worse finish to
date, but it also came over Keeneland’s turf in an allowance to start off the
year. The duel stakes-placed daughter of Smart Strike will try to rebound in
this spot after tiring to fourth in the final sixteenth of the Woodbine Oaks
after chasing the early pace.
Completing Sunday’s Bison City field are Cabo Queen, who was fourth three
weeks ago in the Alywow, and stakes debuter Big Brown Brookski.
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