Company lines point to Mythical Mission in Bison City Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Woodbine Oaks runner-up Mythical Mission will try for her first stakes win in Sunday’s $225,000 Bison City Stakes, the second leg of Canada’s Triple Tiara series for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds over 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta.

Mythical Mission has placed in all three of her stakes starts, including her loss in the Woodbine Oaks on June 11 to Holy Helena, who would return to beat males in the Queen’s Plate. Trainer Malcolm Pierce said he thought Mythical Mission was going to win the Oaks at one point.

“At about the three-sixteenths pole, I thought she was going to win the race,” he said. “[Holy Helena] has come back and proved she’s a very good filly that beat us.”

Pierce said he had originally intended to run Mythical Mission on turf following the Oaks, but this spot was logical.

“We’re confident with the way she’s been doing since her race,” he said. “We weren’t planning on running on Tapeta anymore, but it looks like it’s coming up a very short field, and it’s $225,000, so we’ll probably have to take a shot.”

Bison City (Race 8)

Key Contenders

Mythical Mission, by Giant’s Causeway
Last 3 Beyers: 93-68-70

◗ The Woodbine Oaks was flattered when Holy Helena and Inflexibility came back to run first and third in the Queen’s Plate last Sunday. The Oaks also produced Financial Recovery, who won the Ontario Damsel Stakes on July 1.

◗ Pierce said Mythical Mission has been training well since the Oaks. She breezed five furlongs in 1:00.40 on the Tapeta on June 30. “She’s been doing well,” Pierce said. “I just gave her one little light breeze, so we’re coming in fairly fresh and hopefully happy.”

Enstone, by Tiznow
Last 3 Beyers: 83-83-76

◗ She ran fourth in the Woodbine Oaks after being on the lead along the backstretch. She figures to show speed in the Bison City as well and could be dangerous on the cutback to 1 1/16 miles. She ran second to Grizzel in the Grade 3 Selene Stakes at this distance on May 21. Grizzel was scheduled to run back in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks on Saturday.

Ghostly Presence, by Ghostzapper
Last 3 Beyers: 56-56-65

◗ The Princess Elizabeth Stakes winner hasn’t been able to carry her juvenile form into her 3-year-old campaign, having run ninth in both the Selene Stakes and the Woodbine Oaks in her last two starts. She could take a step forward Sunday following two quick four-furlong breezes for trainer Roger Attfield.

Cindervella, Silent Name
Last 3 Beyers: 80-73-60

◗ She recorded a career-best 80 Beyer Speed Figure when fifth in the Woodbine Oaks in her most recent start.

◗ She won the South Ocean Stakes at this distance as a juvenile and placed in the Ontario Lassie Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta.