Sister Seagull was sent off as the favorite and justified her backers as she split rivals in the stretch to win the Bison City Stakes by a neck at Woodbine on Sunday, 14 August.
The Bison City win was the first Stakes victory for the three-year-old daughter of Hard Spun, who entered the race off a runner-up finish to Moira in the Woodbine Oaks on 24 July.
Piloted once again by jockey Antonio Gallardo, Sister Seagull raced near the rear of the five-horse field as Strega set the early pace. Sister Seagull continued to track the leader while saving ground along the inside rail. The daughter of Hard Spun continued to close on the far turn but had to wait for a spot to open to make her move. Once it did Sister Seagull took full advantage, splitting rivals to take a slight lead with less than a furlong to run. She then had to hold off a determined Strega, who refused to throw in the towel. At the wire it was Sister Seagull on top, with Strega having to settle for second.
Sister Seagull was bred in Ontario by Sean Fitzhenry and races as a homebred for Sean and Dorothy Fitzhenry. She is out Champion and multiple Graded Stakes winner, Sweet Kitten (Kitten’s Joy) and is a half-sister to Stakes-placed Mo Big Cat (Uncle Mo). Dam Sweet Kitten is a full sister to Stakes winners Tweet Kitten and Saint Prado.
Hard Spun's nine other stakes winners in 2022 include last year's G1 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Aloha West, Exotic West, Sparkle Blue, Green Light Go, Loyalty, Necker Island and My Philly Twirl.
