Winterberry gives Casse his record ninth Fury Stakes score
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TORONTO, June 7, 2025 – D.J. Stable’s Winterberry, sent off as the 2-1 second choice, wired her rivals in the $125,000 Fury Stakes Presented by Stella Artois, Saturday at Woodbine.
After a fifth in the Star Shoot Stakes on April 26 to start her sophomore season, Winterberry, trained by Mark Casse, was back on the winning track courtesy of a strong showing in the Fury, a seven-furlong main track event for 3-year-old fillies foaled in Canada.
Under Patrick Husbands, the daughter of Frosted out of the Bellamy Road mare Dreams Are Free broke alertly and was tracked to her outside by 25-1 Nata Trouble through a relaxed opening quarter in :23.52.
Winterberry maintained her one-length advantage over Nata Trouble through a half in :46.38 and was still travelling comfortably as the lead duo straightened for home.
A stubborn Nata Trouble kept up the pressure and was a half-length behind at the stretch call, but Winterberry skipped away in the final 100 yards to cross the wire a 1 ¼-length winner in a time of 1:22.87. Nata Trouble held second, 1 ¼ lengths ahead of Shifty, also owned by D.J. Stable. Aristella and Miss Pierre rounded out the order of finish.
“She made a winning move by the quarter pole, she came off to her right lead, she put her head up and just backed out,” said Husbands, of the Star Shoot. “She came back today and showed that she was back.”
Winterberry had a winning 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, at one mile on the E.P. Taylor turf.
The dark bay 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.
“She’s 80 percent better than last year,” said Husbands, of the filly's maturity level. “Last year, she started showing you not to get in her way – just go with the flow. She has come a long, long way.”
Husbands is confident Winterberry can handle two turns.
“Definitely. She is always showing me she would get two turns. She’s a little quirky, but you’ve got to go with the flow.”
Bred in Ontario by Anderson Farms Ont. Inc., Winterberry was a $210,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland Association September Yearling Sale.
It was the ninth Fury triumph and third straight for Casse. Last year, he won with Olivia Rose.
Winterberry returned $6.80 for the win.
Chris Lomon, Woodbine
