Happy vibrations surrounded the barn of trainer Jimmy Toner Sunday
morning as his big, gray turf star Winter Memories relaxed in her stall the morning after taking the Grade 1,
$600,000 Diana, her most lucrative win to date.
The 4-year-old daughter of El Prado had failed to reach the speedy Tapitsfly in the Grade 1 Longines Just a
Game last month at one mile on the grass at Belmont Park, but with a little
give in the ground and an extra furlong to negotiate, she displayed her full
talent with a blistering acceleration to the front turning for home in the
Diana.
Applauded by the fans on her way to the track, Winter Memories was
greeted with an even greater ovation when she returned to the winner’s
circle.
“That was pretty neat,” said Toner, who plans to rest
Winter Memories and then point toward a run in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl
Invitational on September 29 at Belmont
Park. “You feel the
appreciation for a horse like that. We appreciate seeing the people pick up on
that, and it makes it something special. This is her fan base.”
While the Flower Bowl and Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare
Turf remain prime objectives, Toner said he hadn’t been looking past the
Diana.
“Yesterday was important,” he said. “She got beat
last time, and I wanted to make sure she was legit and back on her game.”