ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Caren went right to the front under Jesse Campbell and never looked back to take the $250,000 Bison City Stakes, the second leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara at Woodbine on Sunday.
Caren ($4.70) set dawdling fractions of 25.45 and 50.32 seconds, with Woodbine Oaks winner Neshama in close proximity, and then opened up a clear lead at the quarter pole. She looked poised to draw away early in the stretch, but then began to tire while switching leads back and forth, before holding sway to score by a length, in a time of 1:45.47 for 1 1/16 miles.
Trini Brewnette closed wide from seventh to edge out Neshama for second in the seven-horse field of Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies.
“She finally got a little racing luck,” said Campbell. “Things [went] a little bit more her way. She showed what kind of horse she is. It’s a 100-year-old saying: Pace makes the race. If they make her go in 47, she’s going to go down swinging, anyway. She’s just a little piece of iron –her 2-year-old campaign, and the way she trains. She’s a tough cookie, and she’s got talent to boot. It’s a tough combo.”
Caren earned $150,000 for owner Robert Marzilli. It was a meet-leading sixth stakes score for trainer Mike DePaulo, who said she could run back in the final Tiara leg on grass in the $250,000 Wonder Where Stakes here Aug. 7.
“It’s a possibility,” said DePaulo. “We’ll have to see what else is available for her. She loves turf. If they leave her alone, maybe she’ll get a mile and a quarter.”
