Woodbine: Bear It’s Time up at the wire in Bison City Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Bear It’s Time wore down the leaders in the stretch to take Sunday’s $250,000 Bison City Stakes, the second leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara, a series for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies at Woodbine.

Luis Contreras rated Bear It’s Time in fifth early in the 1 1/16-mile route as Spooky Kitten and Pleasantfriday vied through moderate fractions. Niigon’s Touch joined Spooky Kitten on the lead at the top of the stretch, while Bear It’s Time loomed into contention on the outside.

Under vigorous urging from Contreras, Bear It’s Time nailed Niigon’s Touch on the wire to score by head, in a time of 1:44.72. Favored Spooky Kitten was another half-length back in third in the six-horse field.

Bear It’s Time paid $9.70.

Reade Baker trains Bear It’s Time, who collected $150,000 for Bear Stable. Baker said running back in just 13 days after her victorious season debut led to her flat effort in the June 5 Woodbine Oaks, and the month off heading into the Bison City was beneficial to her.

“The Oaks wasn’t fair,” Baker said. “She was too sharp that day. She had some time and will probably be better down the road.”

* First-time starter Making Amends ($8.30) caught the favored front-runner Jenna’s Wabbit late to capture Sunday’s $150,000 Clarendon Stakes by a neck. Patrick Husbands got a leg up from trainer Mark Casse on Making Amends, who covered 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.15 in the sprint for Ontario-bred 2-year-olds.

“He’s a classy horse,” Casse said. “He’s going to have a really bright future.”