Woodbine: Cryptic Message holds off favorite in Shady Well Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Cryptic Message held off the favored first-time starter Spring in the Air to win the $150,800 Shady Well Stakes at Woodbine on Sunday.

Cryptic Message ($10.80) led most of the way to take the 5 1/2-furlong dash for 2-year-old fillies by a 1 1/2 lengths, in 1:04.42. Spring in the Air broke slowly from post 1 before closing inside to finish a clear second over another Mark Casse-trained runner, Bold Birdie. Bear’s Pearl checked in fourth in the 10-horse field of Ontario-breds.

Emma Wilson rode Cryptic Message, who is unbeaten in two starts for C.E.C Farm and trainer Ralph Biamonte.

“She was very quick out of the gate, like when she broke her maiden in her first start,” assistant trainer Rocco De Luca said. “First-time Lasix helped a lot, too. She’s bred to go two turns – nice horses overcome their pedigree sometimes.”