TORONTO, August 6, 2025 – Shifty, and Winterberry, trained by dual hall of fame conditioner Mark Casse for D.J. Racing Stable LLC, lock horns with four rivals in Saturday’s $250,000 Bison City Stakes, at Woodbine. A 1 1/16-mile main track event that follows the Woodbine Oaks as the second leg of the Triple Tiara for 3-year-old fillies foaled in Canada, the Bison City has attracted a field of six, including Shifty and Winterberry. Shifty sports a 2-1-2 mark ($224,879 in career purse earnings) from eight engagements, which includes her first stakes success, a 3 ¼-length score in the 2024 Catch A Glimpse. The bay comes into the Bison City off a runner-up showing, as the 2-1 choice, to stablemate and King’s Plate contender No Time, in the Woodbine Oaks, contested on July 20. Shifty (Michael Burns Photo) “Shifty is such an honest, hard-trying filly,” said assistant trainer Kathryn Sullivan. “We were very pleased with her effort in the Oaks, going longer than she ever had.” Shifty debuted over the E.P. Taylor turf on July 4, 2024, and showed late gumption after a slow start to finish fifth in a field of seven. After winning her 3-year-old debut on May 11, she was third in the seven-furlong Fury Stakes, for 3-year-old fillies foaled in Canada, on June 7. “She came out of the Oaks doing great and we’re hoping for another big effort on Saturday,” said Sullivan. By Medaglia d’Oro out of the Elusive Quality mare Elusive Luci, Shifty was bred by Anderson Farm Ontario Inc. and sold for $350,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky sale. Wayne Grant is the groom. Winterberry was third behind stablemates No Time and Shifty in the Woodbine Oaks. “She is another filly who always shows up and she has really matured,” praised Sullivan. “She had a tough post to navigate in the Oaks, but she tried hard right to the wire.” The dark bay made a winning debut last August, a 5 ½-length triumph at 6 ½ panels over the Woodbine main track. Next time out, she was sixth in the Grade 1 Summer, at one mile on the E.P. Taylor turf. Winterberry rebounded with a three-quarter length score in the seven-furlong Glorious Song Stakes on October 13 and closed out her rookie campaign with a fifth in the six-furlong Shady Well Stakes on November 23. After a fifth in the Star Shoot Stakes on April 26 to launch her sophomore season, Winterberry was back on the winning track courtesy of a victory in the Fury Stakes. A daughter of Frosted out of the Bellamy Road mare Dreams Are Free, she brings a record of 3-0-1 ($204,451 in purse earnings) from seven races into the Bison City. “She’s been training well and eating well – looking forward to seeing her hopefully run another big one on Saturday,” said Sullivan. Winterberry (Michael Burns Photo) “They are both very consistent fillies.” Bred in Ontario by Anderson Farms Ont. Inc., Winterberry was a $210,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland Association September Yearling Sale. Ivan “Billy” Forde is the groom. The $250,000 Wonder Where Stakes, the final leg of the Triple Tiara, is scheduled for 1 1/16 miles over the inner turf on September 6 at Woodbine. Owner W.R. Beasley won three of the first four editions of the Bison City: Silly Sara in 1954, Black Coyote in 1955 and Pink Velvet in 1957. Mark Casse has won a record seven runnings of the race, including last year with Stormcast. Jockey Patrick Husbands has also won the race on a record seven occasions. The wagering menu for the Bison City includes Rolling Double, Exacta, 0.20 Trifecta, 0.20 Superfecta, 0.20 Pick 3 (Races 8-9-10) and $1 Swinger. First post for Saturday is 1:05 p.m. ET. Fans can wager on all the action through HPIbet.com and bet365.com. Field for the $250,000 Bison City Stakes – Race 8 Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer 1 – Shifty – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse 2 – Crystal Visions – Ryan Munger – Stuart Simon 3 – Hibiscus – Pietro Moran – Josie Carroll 4 – Innisfree Isle (S) – Fraser Aebly – Catherine Day Phillips 5 – Winterberry – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse 6 – Aristella – Rafael Hernandez – Rachel Halden Chris Lomon, Woodbine Share This:Share
