Oaks top three battle again in Bison City

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Sealy Hill, Saskawea, and Street Sounds, the top three finishers from the Woodbine Oaks on June 10, will go at it again in Sunday's $250,000 Bison City here at Woodbine.

The Bison City, which had been run at Fort Erie since 1980, is at 1 1/16 miles, as opposed to the Oaks, which is run at 1 1/8 miles, and is the second leg of the triple tiara for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies.

Street Sounds set a rapid pace in the Oaks with Saskawea pressing in second and Sealy Hill stalking and then pouncing for the win.

Michael Matz, who trains Street Sounds at his Fair Hill, Md., base, believes returning rider Ramon Dominguez can employ a more judicious ride in the Bison City.

"I think our jockey just got a little overzealous," said Matz, who watched Street Sounds fade and finish 8 1/2 lengths back in third as the 6-5 favorite. "I think that's straightened out now, and we're going to be fine."

Street Sounds, a stakes winner on both turf and on Keeneland's Polytrack, has been effective racing on and just off the pace.

"She won't be going as fast as she did," said Matz, who spent several days at Woodbine and concluded that the track was not favoring speed horses. "If the track was playing different this time, there's a possibility we could be on the lead. I don't think she needs to be. I think it's just unfortunate that that's the way the race was unfolding, and it just didn't suit her."

Steve Attard, who trains Saskawea, also would like to see his filly run a different type of race in the Bison City.

"We can't chase Street Sounds," he said.

Saskawea, who was beaten 4 1/4 lengths in the Oaks, tuned up for the Bison City at Woodbine last Sunday by breezing six furlongs in 1:12.60 under regular rider Justin Stein.

"Justin said he never moved an inch on her," said Attard, who trains the filly for is owner Les Pereira.

Sweet Breanna, racing for the same connections last year, finished second in both the Oaks and the Bison City behind Kimchi, who was trained by Mark Casse.

Sealy Hill, also trained by Casse, will be ridden again Sunday by Patrick Husbands, who rode her in the Oaks.

Casse breezed Sealy Hill five furlongs in 1:00.40 here on June 22.

"She's coming into this race equally well," said Casse.

Rounding out the field are Quiet Jungle, who finished a distant fifth in the Oaks, and Imeanseriously, who will be making her stakes debut.