Catch a Glimpse, the 2015 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IT) winner, shined again in her 3-year-old debut Feb. 27 at Gulfstream Park with an open-lengths score in the $150,000 Herecomesthebride Stakes (gr. IIIT). Video: Herecomesthebride S. (G3T)
The City Zip filly tracked early longshot leader Vieja Luna early in the 1 1/16-mile grass test—just off fractions of :23.96 and :49.10 through a half-mile—then effortlessly took command in the final turn to run six furlongs in 1:13.97, and drew away from the field to win by 2 1/2 lengths under jockey Florent Geroux.
"I was loaded (going into the far turn)," Geroux said. "Going into the elbow, she pointed her ears and lost focus just a little bit, then she just galloped home easy."
The pair hit the wire in 1:42.63, while Lira checked in second and Gone Away came in third.
It was the fourth straight victory for the Mark Casse-trained Catch a Glimpse and third straight stakes score, which includes the Juvenile Fillies Turf and the Natalma (Can-IIT) last year at Woodbine. She is the fifth 2015 Breeders' Cup winner to return to racing with a win.
"She's still learning and not 100% professional," assistant trainer Norman Casse said. "But she's obviously very talented and she'll get even better as she goes on. It was good (the return) and we're excited to have her back, and we look to moving forward from here."
With four wins from five starts, Catch a Glimpse has $767,562 in earnings for owners Gary Barber, Michael James Ambler, and Windways Farm. She was bred in Kentucky by Branch Equine out of the Irish River mare Halo River.
The winner paid $3.20, $2.20, and $2.10 across the board. Lira paid $2.80 and $2.40, while Gone Away brough $4.20 to show.
Hold Harmless made mild gains to finish fourth, followed by Pulled the Goalie, Andreya's Reward, Vieja Luna, and Wedding Dress, to complete the order of finish.