Winterberry sharp in Glorious Song

TORONTO, October 13, 2024— Winterberry and jockey Sahin Civaci made a decisive, winning move into the turn for home in the $125,000 Glorious Song Stakes, Sunday at Woodbine.

Owned by D.J. Stable LLC and trained by Mark Casse, the dark bay filly landed fourth early in the seven-furlong main track event for 2-year-old fillies, as stablemate Souper Supreme struck front and took her five foes through an opening panel in :22.86.

Nata Trouble then took a slim lead before the half in :45.70, followed by Neenah, and Winterberry, while Souper Supreme quickly fell out of contention.

Just ahead of the turn for home, Winterberry blew by her rivals with an outside rush and began to stride away in upper stretch. Ahead by five lengths at the stretch call, the sizable advantage began to diminish in the late going, as another stablemate, Charlotte’s Heart came calling with a vigorous run.

At the wire, Winterberry held for a three-quarter length score. Nata Trouble was third and Miss Saugerties was fourth.

The final time was 1:22.92.

“Before she even ran her first race, I got on her, worked her a couple times, and she’s a pretty nice horse,” said Civaci, who won five races, two of them for Casse, on Saturday.

“Patrick’s [jockey, Husbands] horse [Souper Supreme], I thought he would be on the lead, and I don’t think we both had a good start there. I was in a comfortable spot. Had to take a wide trip, but the horses up front tired, so I managed to get inside, and she kicked on.”

It was the first stakes trophy and second win from three starts for Winterberry, who won her debut on Aug. 24 at Woodbine, before a sixth in the Summer Stakes (G1T) on Sept. 14.

Bred in Ontario by Anderson Farms Ont. Inc., the daughter of Frosted was a $210,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland Association September Yearling Sale.

Sent off as the 3-5 choice, Winterberry, out of the Bellamy Road mare Dreams Are Free, paid $3.40. 

Chris Lomon, Woodbine