Emmeline Looks To Go One Better In Bison City

TORONTO, ON – John Mattinee trainee Emmeline, runner-up in this year’s Woodbine Oaks presented by Budweiser, goes after top prize in Saturday’s $250,000 Bison City Stakes at Woodbine.

The Bison City, a 1 1/16-mile fixture that follows the Woodbine Oaks as the second leg of the Triple Tiara for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies, attracted a field of six starters.

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Bred by the late William Graham, the daughter of Violence arrives at the Bison City off 3 consecutive runner-up efforts, including a game performance in the Oaks.

Sent to the lead in the $500,000 main track event, 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.

Mattine is hoping his 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 3-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 2 and she’s stakes-placed at 3. 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.”

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.

Dual Hall of Fame conditioner Mark Casse won 3 straight editions, from 2017-19. His son, Norm, took last year’s race with Mizzen Beau.

The $250,000 Wonder Where Stakes, the final leg of the Triple Tiara, is scheduled for 1 1/4 miles on the E.P Taylor Turf Course on October 2 at Woodbine.

First post for Saturday is 1:10 PM.

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Miss Speedy – Gary Boulanger – Mark Casse

2 – Miss Marie – David Moran – Breed Hayes

3 – Emmeline – Emma-Jayne Wilson – John Mattine

4 – Youens – Jeffrey Alderson – Angus Buntain

5 – Il Malocchio – Patrick Husbands – Martin Drexler

6 – Cielo d’Oro – Antonio Gallardo – Catherine Day Phillips