Silver Bird gets first stakes win

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Silver Bird parlayed an ideal stalking trip into her first stakes victory Sunday at Woodbine in the $181,375 Glorious Song, a seven-furlong dash for 2-year-old fillies.

Four runners linked up on the front end on the backstretch, including Blonde Executive and favored Dream About, through fractions of :22.08 and :44.62. Duet made a premature four-wide bid heading into the far turn, as Silver Bird awaited room along the inside under jockey Jim McAleney.

Silver Bird was angled to the rail at the head of the stretch, and then pulled away for a four and a half-length win. Duet finished a clear second, while Sweet Problem edged Blonde Executive for third in the seven-horse field. The final time was 1:23.07.

"The race shaped up perfectly," said McAleney. "We had a ton of speed to chase, and we sat in behind and waited for the right spot at the right time."

Reade Baker trains Silver Bird, who returned $8.30 as the second choice, and earned $112,125 for owner Jim McAlpine.