Safe to Say, Mo Big Cat give Casse two good looks in Bison City Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Mark Casse will take two shots at Sunday’s $225,000 Bison City Stakes at Woodbine when he runs Safe to Say and Mo Big Cat in the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta route.

Safe to Say should be favored off a closing third in the Grade 3 Selene Stakes behind Miss Mo Mentum and Dixie Moon, who subsequently captured the Woodbine Oaks.

“I thought it was a good race,” said Casse, who has won the Bison City three times. “Those were tough fillies that beat her.”

Mo Big Cat was an encouraging second in a nine-furlong allowance June 8, her first outing since finishing seventh in the Grade 1 Natalma on Sept. 17 and then getting sick before the Oct. 29 Princess Elizabeth Stakes.

“She’s a toughie,” said Casse. “She was the favorite in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes, but she got colic the night before. She was at Guelph University for almost a month. They thought she wasn’t going to live, but she made it. Her race back was really good, and I think she should move forward from there.”

The Bison City is the middle leg of the series for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies. Queen’s Plate entrants Dixie Moon and Wonder Gadot ran one-two in the first leg, the Woodbine Oaks. The series concludes with the Wonder Where, a 1 1/4-mile turf race at Woodbine on Aug. 12.

The Bison City is one of three Sunday stakes, along with the Grade 3 Dominion Day and the $100,000 Zadracarta, a seven-furlong turf sprint for Ontario-bred fillies and mares. The opening leg of the Woodbine Turf Endurance Series is also on the challenging 10-race program.

KEY CONTENDERS

Safe to Say, by Justin Phillip

Last 3 Beyers: 80-75-50

◗ She has worked regularly since the May 19 Selene, and will be ridden by Jerome Lermyte for the third straight time.

Mo Big Cat, by Uncle Mo

Last 3 Beyers: 63-62-60

◗ She breezed five-eighths in 1:00.80 on June 22, which should set her up nicely for this engagement.

Hot Cash, by Ghostzapper

Last 3 Beyers: 76-80-68

◗ The improving maiden was a distant third in the June 9 Woodbine Oaks, her first start on a synthetic surface.

“She seems to love the Tapeta,” said Stronach Stable racing manager Mike Doyle.

Lunar Garden, by Malibu Moon

Last 3 Beyers: 70-67-50

◗ The well-bred Chiefswood Stable runner comes off a third against older maidens going long on the Tapeta.

“I thought she ran a really good race here last time,” said Chiefswood general manager Robert Landry. “We contemplated running her back in a maiden race, but she’s thrown a couple of good works lately, so we’re going to give her a shot.”

My Borrowed Angel, by Silent Name

Beyers: 82-77

◗ She was supplemented by trainer Mike Wright, and is unbeaten in two starts, both in Ontario-sired sprints. She possesses a blend of speed and stamina in her pedigree.

Zadracarta Stakes

Casse also has two entrants for the Zadracarta in the Conrad Stable runners Jennifer Lynnette and Listenlindalisten.

Jennifer Lynnette won the Grade 3 Royal North here last summer. She was a minor player against some salty opposition in the U.S. during the spring.

Niigon’s Eclipse is a contender in the Zadracarta. She posted a 12-1 upset last time in the Grade 2 Nassau after getting away with murder on the front end.

Silent Sonet seems primed for a peak performance in her third race off the shelf.