TORONTO, June 5, 2025 – D.J Stable sophomores, Shifty, and Winterberry, both trained by dual hall of fame conditioner Mark Casse, are set to go postward in Saturday’s $125,000 Fury Stakes Presented by Stella Artois, at Woodbine. A key prep on the road to this year’s $500,000 Woodbine Oaks Presented by Stella Artois (July 20, at Woodbine), the seven-furlong main track Fury is for 3-year-old fillies foaled in Canada. Shifty, a daughter of Medaglia d’Oro out of the Elusive Quality mare Elusive Luci, produced a head-turning performance in her 3-year-old debut on May 11 at Woodbine. Shifty and jockey Sahin Civaci winning Race 8 on May 11, 2025 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) Sent off as the 3-5 choice in the seven-furlong main track race, she broke sharply and found herself 1 ½ lengths clear of her closest rival after the opening quarter. The bay filly, under Sahin Civaci, improved her lead at each pole, going on to notch a 9 ½-length win in a time of 1:23.36. “It was a really impressive start to her year,” said assistant trainer Kathryn Sullivan. “I don’t think you ever really see that [margin of victory] coming, but we knew she was doing very well going into the race.” Shifty’s first three engagements came on the turf. After a fifth in her debut at six furlongs on the E.P. Taylor turf, she recorded a 3 ¼-length score at 6 ½ panels over the same course. After a sixth on the grass at Belmont at the Big A in October, Shifty returned to Woodbine and finished third in the 1 1/16-mile Grey Stakes (G3) on November 3. Twenty-seven days later, she closed out her rookie season with a fourth, just two lengths behind winner Aristella, in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes, also at 1 1/16 miles. Her most recent work ahead of the Fury came on May 29 when she travelled four furlongs in :46.60 – the fastest of 28 works at the distance that day. “She has always been a filly we have had high hopes for,” said Sullivan. “We’re hoping for big things from her this year. She’s worked well and hopefully, she can build off that impressive first start of the year.” Shifty, 2-0-1 from six starts, was bred by Anderson Farm Ontario Inc. and sold for $350,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Kentucky sale. “She is a very easy filly to be around,” said Sullivan. “We’re hoping to move forward throughout the year and see if she can go longer – that is our plan for her. But she does look like she has that ability.” Wayne Grant is the groom. Also owned by D.J. Stable LLC, Winterberry, a daughter of Frosted out of the Bellamy Road mare Dreams Are Free, brings a mark of 2-0-0 from five starts into the Fury. The dark bay made a splashy debut last August, a 5 ½-length victory at 6 ½ furlongs over the Woodbine main track. Next time out, she was sixth in the Grade 1 Summer, a one-mile stakes race contested on the E.P. Taylor turf. She rebounded with a three-quarter length win in the seven-furlong Glorious Song Stakes on October 13 and closed out her rookie year with a fifth in the six-furlong Shady Well Stakes on November 23. “We have always liked her too,” said Sullivan, of the filly also bred in Ontario by Anderson Farms Ont. Inc. Winterberry and jockey Sahin Civaci winning the Glorious Song stakes on October 13, 2024 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) Winterberry made her 3-year-old debut on April 26 in the Star Shoot Stakes, finishing fifth at six furlongs over the Woodbine main track. “We thought it was a good overall effort,” said Sullivan. “I think it was a question of her just getting a little tired in the late going with it being her first race of the year.” The $210,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland Association September Yearling Sale recorded three four-furlong breezes after the Star Shoot, including a bullet :47.20 effort on May 28. “We were quite happy with the works,” said Sullivan. “She’s coming into the race in great shape. Now that she has had that first race of the year out of the way, we’re looking to keep building with her and the hope is she can have a big year.” The biggest difference between the Casse barn’s Fury contenders lies in their personalities. “She [Winterberry] is quite the diva, whereas Shifty is quite the opposite,” said Sullivan. “Winterberry is a handful, for sure. This year, she has matured a little bit. My sister Sarah and I were recently talking about her. We have Winterberry’s younger sister, Wolfberry, and they were actually beside each other in the barn. We were saying that Winterberry is acting a little better this year because she doesn’t want anyone to like Wolfberry better – I suppose there is a little sibling rivalry there.” Ivan “Billy” Forde is the groom. Casse has won eight editions of the Fury, including four consecutive runnings from 2011-14. Gracefield won the inaugural edition in 1956. The Fury is listed as Race 3 on the 10-race card, with a first post of 1:05 p.m. The wagering menu for the race includes Rolling Double, Exacta, 0.20 Trifecta, 0.20 Superfecta, Pick 3 (Races 3-4-5) and $1 Swinger. Fans can wager on all the action through HPIbet.com and bet365.com. Field for the $125,000 Fury Stakes Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer 1 – Shifty – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse 2 – Miss Pierre – Desean Bynoe – John Coryat 3 – Winterberry – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse 4 – Aristella – Rafael Hernandez – Rachel Halden 5 – Nata Trouble – David Moran – Willie Armata Chris Lomon, Woodbine Share This:Share
