Free Fee Lady collected the pieces when 1-10 favorite Embur's Song burnt out in upper stretch, drawing away to a four-length win for jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson in the $250,000 (US$241,851) Bison City Stakes (VIDEO) at Woodbine July 11.
Like the Woodbine Oaks last month, the second leg of Canada's Triple Tiara for 3-year-old fillies burnt chalk players again. Embur's Song was the 2-5 choice in the Oaks and faded to third after setting a swift pace. This time, Free Fee Lady tallied at odds of 15-1 as the longest shot in a four-horse field, completing the 1 1/16-mile Polytrack journey in 1:44.02.
The Bison City victory came in Free Fee Lady's first try against winners after she defeated maidens in her last start for trainer Reade Baker. Owned by Harlequin Ranches, the Canadian-bred daughter of Victory Gallop—Atocha Queen, by Slew o' Gold, was also making her route debut after two prior starts at seven furlongs.
Determined to keep Embur's Song from going too fast early, Garrett Gomez had the daughter of Unbridled's Song under a firm restraint after the sharp filly broke on the lead from the rail and took a one-length lead over the maiden Oil Painting. In spite of Gomez's efforts, Embur's Song would post solid fractions once again—:23.80, :47.74 and 1:11.88—and could not shake Oil Painting, who advanced to within a head of the leader on the final turn.
That was it, though, for Oil Painting, as Embur's Song moved clear coming into the stretch. Free Fee Lady, stalking from off the rail about three to four lengths away, closed the gap rounding the bend and reached even terms in upper stretch. Under a hand ride from Wilson, she edged away to a 1 1/2-length advantage at the furlong pole and widened the lead from there to score easily.
Ember's Song, while yielding readily to the winner, was a clear second by 6 1/4 lengths over Oil Painting and Patrick Husbands. Ernfold trailed throughout.
Bred in Alberta, Canada, by Highfield Stock Farm and David Munro, Free Fee Lady was a US$28,548 yearling auction purchase at Alberta in August 2008. The dark bay or brown filly earned US$152,366 for the Bison City victory, her second in three starts.
Free Fee Lady debuted May 22 at Woodbine with a runner-up finish in a seven-furlong maiden event, losing by a neck after leading by two lengths in the stretch. She returned June 20 to secure her maiden win with a rail-skimming effort, also at seven furlongs at Woodbine, by 1 1/2 lengths.
Teamed with Wilson for the first time, she paid $32 for the win. There was no place or show wagering. The exacta returned $51.90.
Stewards scratched Thorn Flower, who is also trained by Baker, reducing the field to four.
The final leg of the 3-year-old filly series at Woodbine is the $250,000 Wonder Where Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf Aug. 1.
