Unspurned captures Bison City Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Unspurned ran a determined race on the front end Sunday at Woodbine to capture the $250,000 Bison City Stakes, the second leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara, a series for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies.

Unspurned dueled with the favored Wild Catomine around the first turn in the 1 1/16-mile route, before opening up a clear lead through a half in a rapid 46.53 seconds. A stalking Hot and Spicy loomed into serious contention exiting the far turn, but Unspurned repelled that challenge and drew clear late to prevail by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:45.47. Paladin Bay was along for third over a fading Wild Catomine, while Call Her Karma completed the order of finish.

Justin Stein rode Unspurned for trainer Roger Attfield, who won the Bison City for the fourth time.

“She ran a huge race,” Stein said. “I had a lot of faith in this barn’s ability to have a horse really ready on the right day. I wasn’t too worried about being on the lead because she was just loping along. I was really surprised to see the fractions that we set. We got a nice breather around the far turn, and she just stayed steady.”

Unspurned ($13.80) banked $150,000 in her first stakes triumph for owner Christine Hayden.

** The favored Starless Night ($6.40) led all the way in Sunday’s supporting feature, the $150,000 Shady Well Stakes, under Eurico Da Silva. Starless Night covered 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.67, while scoring by 2 1/2 lengths over a charging Dixie Twist, who caught Brooklynsway late for second in the race for Ontario-bred 2-year-old fillies.

“She ran very strong all the way,” Da Silva said. “She was a very easy winner.”

Starless Night was the third winner on the day for Tucci Stable. Her trainer, Nick Gonzalez, registered a four-bagger on the card.