East West Stables’ Enstone led the way throughout Sunday’s $174,713 Bison City Stakes, the second leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara, and turned back Mythical Mission in the lane to score a one-length victory under jockey Patrick Husbands.
Enstone grabbed command soon after the start and settled on the front through splits of :25.50, :50.17, 1:13.86 and 1:38.31, all the while chased by Mythical Mission. The two previously faced off in the first leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara, the Woodbine Oaks on June 11, with Mystical Mission running second to eventual Queen’s Plate conqueror Holy Helena and Enstone fading to a well-beaten fourth.
This time around, Enstone refused to yield and dug in to repel Mythical Mission’s challenge in Woodbine’s stretch. The Tiznow filly finished 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather Tapeta in 1:44.88 and returned $5.30 as the 8-5 second choice.
Mythical Mission was a game second and easily best of the rest, 6 1/2 lengths in front of third-placer Ghostly Presence. Logic of Absurdity followed another four lengths behind while a neck up on Erin Commodity, who in turn finished a head better than last-place runner Cindervella.
Enstone is now 10-3-4-0, $298,010 in her career. The Mark Casse-trained filly took five tries to break her maiden, finally getting the job done by 7 1/4 front-running lengths last October. She was a half-length second in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes to close out her juvenile campaign in mid-November, and took her time opening 2017 but did so with a nice win in the Fury Stakes on April 30.
Second in the May 21 Selene Stakes (Can-G3) next out, Enstone finished fourth in the Woodbine Oaks before taking this one.
Bred in Ontario, Canada, by William D. Graham, Enstone is out of the Storm Cat mare La Suena, who is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Forest Secrets, Grade 3 scorer Rumor Has It and the dam of Group 3 victor Big Wildcat.
Enstone’s third dam is Rokeby Rose, who produced dual champion Silverbulletday. This female line also includes 1969 Horse of the Year Arts and Letters.
The third and final leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara is the Wonder Where Stakes sending fillies 1 1/4 miles on Woodbine’s turf July 30.
BISON CITY QUOTES
Patrick Husbands, jockey Enstone, winner
“She’s a very aggressive filly. I got an easy quarter and an easy half, and I picked it up 4 1/2 furlongs out because she doesn’t really have a (strong) turn of foot. From the three-eighths pole, I really squeezed her.
“She will go all day. She likes the front end and she likes to be relaxed. That’s the best thing she likes to do – go on the lead, prick her ears and enjoy herself.”
Kathryn Sullivan, assistant trainer Enstone, winner
“This horse rarely runs a bad race. She tries every time. We’re just pretty happy with today and I just think she’s going in the right direction.
“(Enstone) is a tiny, little town in Nova Scotia that Dr. McMartin and his wife Sherry – Sherry is one of the owners – go to in the summer. The Enstone Pub has many pictures up on the wall already. I think this one will be in a prominent place.”
