Winterberry gives her connections a special victory in the Bison City (Michael Burns)
Chris Lomon/Woodbine Communications
TORONTO – Winterberry got the measure of stablemate Shifty in the $250,000 Bison City Stakes, for Canadian-foaled 3-year-old fillies, Saturday at Woodbine.
Under Patrick Husbands, Winterberry, second choice in the field of six at 9-5, was hustled out of the gate and dueled for the early lead with Hibiscus into the first turn of the 1 1/16-mile main track feature.
Winterberry, who was three lengths clear of Hibiscus through an opening quarter in :23.39, while Shifty watched the proceedings from in third, stretched her advantage to 3 ½ lengths over Hibiscus through a half in :47.38.
Still comfortably controlling the tempo into the turn for home, Winterberry was confronted by 3-5 choice Shifty but showed no signs of yielding the lead straightening for home.
Ahead by 2 1/2 lengths at the stretch call, Winterberry waltzed under the wire an easy winner by the same margin over Shifty, to deliver owner D.J. Stable LLC a one-two finish. Aristella was 4 ½ lengths further back in third. Crystal Visions was fourth.
The final time was 1:44.45.
“I’ll be honest, I’ve never seen a horse change around like her,” said Husbands, who, along with trainer Mark Casse, celebrated his record eighth lifetime Bison City victory. “She was so strong and focused down the lane today. I had a lot of horse. I’m very proud of her.”
It was the third stakes success for the daughter of Frosted out of the Bellamy Road mare Dreams Are Free, who is now 4-0-1 from eight starts.
She arrived at the Bison City off a third in the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks on July 20, a 1 1/8-mile race over the Woodbine main track that saw Shifty finish second.
Winterberry made a winning debut last August, a 5 ½-length score at 6 ½ furlongs over the Toronto oval’s main track. Next time out, she was sixth in the Grade 1 Summer, at one mile on the E.P. Taylor turf.
The dark bay rebounded with a three-quarter length triumph in the seven-furlong Glorious Song Stakes on October 13 and closed out her rookie season 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 returned to the winner’s circle after taking top prize in the Fury Stakes.
Bred in Ontario by Anderson Farms Ont. Inc., Winterberry was a $210,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland Association September Yearling Sale.
She paid $5.70 for today’s win.
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.
