TORONTO, October 9, 2025 – A pair of $125,000 stakes, the Display and Glorious Song, share the spotlight on Sunday at Woodbine. Trained by Dale Desruisseaux for owner and breeder Chiefswood Stables, Piper’s Gift heads into the Glorious Song, a seven-furlong main track event for 2-year-old fillies, off a sharp maiden-breaking score on September 20 at Woodbine. Sent off at 5-2 in the six-furlong main track maiden special weight race that attracted eight hopefuls, Piper’s Gift stalked the pace before ranging up three wide near the quarter pole and then sprinted away from her rivals. Ahead by 4 ½ lengths at the stretch call, the bay filly bounded home for an eight-length victory in 1:10.95. “She ran huge,” praised Desruisseaux. “She ran a huge race in her debut (second, over six furlongs on the E.P. Taylor turf on July 26). She was outside the whole way and ran second. I thought it was a really good effort. She came back and finished fifth in the Catch a Glimpse Stakes (6 ½ furlongs on the E.P. Taylor, on August 16) and I was a little disappointed. We had a little issue in that race – she bled a bit – which gave us an explanation. We put her on Lasix for the next one and she was excellent.” Desruisseaux, who has already posted career-best numbers nearly across the board in 2025, pointed to a post-race moment that caught his eye. “We talked to Robert Landry (General Manager, Chiefswood) and breeding-wise, it looks like she wants to stretch out. I think the gallop out after the race was almost as visually impressive as she was during the race. I know she wasn’t pressured and it’s a lot easier when you are by yourself on the lead, but I think there was a fair bit more left in the tank. “She’s maturing every week and every race. We’ve switched up a few things to get her to relax a little more. She’s a beautiful-looking filly and the talent is certainly there.” Piper’s Gift breezed four furlongs in :47.00 – fastest of 82 works at the distance on October 4 – in preparation for her second stakes engagement. Piper’s Gift and jockey Rafael Hernandez winning Race 6 on September 20, 2025 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) The daughter of Yorkton out of the Silent Name (JPN) mare Piper’s Legacy impressed Desruisseaux once again. “She breezed phenomenally. Visually, I wasn’t looking at my clock while she was going, but after three eighths, I did look down at my clock, and I was totally surprised at how fast she was going – she looked like she was crawling. Usually, that’s a good sign when horses don’t look like they are going anywhere, but timewise, they are going at a really nice clip. She came out of it great. I think that was probably her best breeze all year.” Kyle MacDonald is the groom. Glorious Song, who achieved great success as a racemare and broodmare, became Canada’s first millionaire in 1981, a campaign in which she was named the country’s champion filly or mare for the second year in a row. She was the unanimous choice for a Sovereign as Horse of the Year in 1980, a season in which she also won an Eclipse Award as North America’s champion distaffer. In all, she recorded 17 wins, including 13 added-money triumphs, from 34 starts, along with purse earnings of $1,004,534. Also on Sunday, seven 2-year-olds will contest the Display Stakes, set for seven furlongs on the main track. Champion trainer Kevin Attard sends out first-time starter Baaeed Alynna, a son of Good Magic out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Pacific Dancer. Dual Hall of Fame conditioner Mark Casse is represented by Jupiter, second in the Victoria Stakes this July, and Timeframe, who broke his maiden in his second start, a half-length score over seven furlongs on the E.P. Taylor turf, on August 16. Navy Street, a debut winner for Spruce Park Stable (bred by Jim Dandy Stable), Streetshavenoname, a debut winner for Bruno Schickedanz, and last time out winners Speights Will and Lennox the Grey round out the field. First post is at 1:05 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action through HPIbet.com, and bet365. The wagering menu for the Glorious Song includes Rolling Double, Exacta, 0.20 Trifecta, .20 Superfecta, 0.20 Pick 3 (Races 9-10-11) and $1 Swinger. The wagering menu for the Display includes Rolling Double, Exacta, 0.20 Trifecta, 0.20 Superfecta, 0.20 Pick 3 (Races 8-9-10), 0.20 Pick 4 (Races 8-9-10-11) and $1 Swinger. Field for the Glorious Song Stakes – Race 9 Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer 1 – Piper’s Gift – Rafael Hernandez – Dale Desruisseaux 2 – Luv Your Neighbor – Sahin Civaci – Michael Stidham 3 – Smooch Up (S) – Pablo Morales – Ron Potts 4 – Sacred Goddess – Ryan Munger – Jeremiah Englehart 5 – Mathematical – Skye Chernetz – Dave Cotey 6 – Dunmore Beach – Fraser Aebly – Josie Carroll 7 – Ada Clare – Pietro Moran – Kevin Attard 8 – Sweet Fusion – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse Field for the Display Stakes – Race 8 Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer 1 – Navy Street – Eswan Flores – Sid Attard 2 – Timeframe – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse 3 – Streetshavenoname (S) – Patrick Husbands – Devon Gittens 4 – Jupiter – Fraser Aebly – Mark Casse 5 – Speights Will (S) – Ryan Munger – Steven Chircop 6 – Lennox the Grey (S) – Rafael Hernandez – Catherine Day Phillips 7 – Baaeed Alynna – Pietro Moran – Kevin Attard Chris Lomon, Woodbine Share This:Share
