Winter Memories Back on the Turf

Winter Memories, who was a dazzling four-time graded stakes winner in 2011, had her first official breeze of the year Feb. 21 at Palm Meadows.

The 4-year-old daughter of El Prado went an easy three furlongs in :38 3/5 on the firm turf course Tuesday morning for trainer Jimmy Toner. The gray/roan filly has been with Toner in South Florida since mid-January, a few months after completing her season last fall at Keeneland.

“It was a first breeze; she went nice and easy,” Toner said. “She was on the jogging trail at Palm Meadows for a couple of weeks, which is a nice place to start instead of going right to the track. She galloped for a month after that. We’re glad to have her back.”

As a temporarily plan, Toner is hoping to have the Phillips Racing Partnership homebred ready for the $300,000 Jenny Wiley (gr. IT) April 14 at Keeneland for her first race back. The goal after that is the Just a Game (gr. IT) June 9 on Belmont Stakes Day.

Winter Memories won four of six races in 2011, including the grade I Garden City Stakes at Belmont. She finished fourth in the Oct. 15 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (gr. IT) at Keeneland in her final race a 3-year-old.

Overall, Winter Memories is 6-1-0 from nine lifetime starts for earnings of $718,100.