Husbands captures Bison City for season-leading eighth stakes

Barbadian Patrick Husbands rode a season-leading eighth added-money winner when he got the best of a thrilling stretch duel to carry 9-2 choice Il Malocchio to victory in the CAN$250 000 Bison City Stakes in Canada on Saturday.

Going a mile and sixteenth in the second leg of Canada’s Triple Tiara at Woodbine, Husbands stormed into contention with the three-year-old bay filly at the top of the stretch but was forced to withstand a heavy challenge from 4-1 chance Emmeline before getting to the wire by half-length in one minute, 43.42 seconds.

The 48-year-old has enjoyed a hot streak in big races, coming off victories in the Grade 3 $150,000 Ontario Colleen Stakes and the $140 250 Soaring Free Stakes here last week.

For Husbands, it was his sixth win in the Bison City and third success in the last five years.

“In 31 years of riding, I try not to get cocky because whenever you get cocky you get beaten,” Husbands joked afterwards.

He added: “She ran a big race today. I was just happy. Last time she tricked me by the quarter-pole. I thought I had the race won and she paused for about three strides and the three strides cost me the [Woodbine] Oaks.

“So today before I swung for home, I made sure I had her in gear. Last time I let her take me to the quarter-pole and then when I asked her, she didn’t give me it. Today I had her well alert.”

Up against the three-year-olds, Il Malocchio battled in third with 48-1 longshot Youens as favourite Miss Speedy sped through the first quarter in 23.57 seconds and the half in 46.68, to be six lengths clear of Emmeline at one stage.

Heading towards the final turn, Il Malocchio blew by Youens and attacked Emmeline as Miss Speedy began to fade turning for home.

Emmeline hit the front inside the final furlong but Husbands drew level with Il Malocchio before getting the better of the exchanges.