Catch a Glimpse Named Canada's HOTY

Catch a Glimpse (City Zip–Halo River, by Irish River {Fr}), undefeated in three starts on turf in 2015 capped by a 3/4-length success in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland last October, was crowned Canada's Horse of the Year in ceremonies held Friday evening at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto. She was also named champion turf female–by a mere two votes–and the champion 2-year-old filly.

Bred in Kentucky by Branch Equine LLC, Catch a Glimpse was purchased by Windways Farm for $75,000 out of Warrendale Sales consignment at the 2013 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and broke her maiden for Windways, Gary Barber and Michael James Ambler in a seven-furlong allowance over the Woodbine turf in August. She followed up with a five-length defeat of 'TDN Rising Star' and fellow Sovereign Award finalist Gamble's Ghost (Ghostzapper) in the GII Natalma S. Sept. 12, trained up to the Breeders' Cup and outlasted Irish raider Alice Springs (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for a 3/4-length success. The chestnut has one start under her belt this season, a facile victory in the GIII Herecomesthebride S. at Gulfstream Park Feb. 27.

Catch a Glimpse became the third Horse of the Year in the last four years to be trained by Mark Casse (Uncaptured, 2012; Lexie Lou, 2015). The latter was also campaigned by Gary Barber. Not surprisingly, Casse accepted the award for the nation's outstanding trainer for the fourth consecutive year and for the seventh time in the last nine seasons. The Indianapolis, Indiana, native won his ninth straight training title at Woodbine in 2015, with 14 stakes wins among his 80 winners, and $4.9 million in earnings. Casse's success also extended to south of the border, as he also saddled Tepin (Bernstein) to a victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile en route to being named the champion turf mare in the U.S. Airoforce (Colonel John) was also runner-up in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.