Dale Desruisseaux’s trainee, Glorious Gem, is set to make a notable appearance in the $300,000 Cup and Saucer Stakes this Sunday at Woodbine. This prestigious 1 1/16-mile race on the E.P. Taylor turf is reserved for Canadian-foaled 2-year-olds and has attracted a competitive field of 10 contenders, including Glorious Gem, a homebred owned by Garland Williamson’s Hillsbrook Farms.
Glorious Gem, a daughter of Tonalist out of Tactical Cat mare Like a Gem—who herself was a multiple stakes winner bred by Williamson—finished second in her debut on September 13 over seven furlongs on the E.P. Taylor turf. Despite being near the back of the pack early, she advanced four-wide near the three-eighths marker and then seven-wide in the upper stretch, ultimately finishing 3¼ lengths behind the winner.
Desruisseaux, enjoying the best season of his career, remarked, “Seven furlongs wasn’t the perfect distance in her first race, but we needed to get a start in before this one. We instructed Rafi (jockey Rafael Hernandez) to let her settle early and finish strongly, which she did.” He described her growth and development, comparing her to a teenager going through a growth spurt, noting that she has gained muscle and now fits the profile of a typical filly suited for longer races.
Unfazed by the fact that Glorious Gem will be competing against male horses, Desruisseaux said, “We feel she belongs here and she’s prepared for Sunday. She’s built for stamina, enjoying longer distances and trains accordingly. Although she may lack a sharp burst of speed, her endurance and consistent pace make her a strong contender.” Despite this being only her second race, he stressed the urgency of seizing this opportunity, highlighting her pedigree and breeding for distance, including being a half-sister to Hard Not to Like, a multiple graded stakes winner and 2011 Cup and Saucer champion.
Glorious Gem is cared for by groom Irina Sirotinina and has recently worked four furlongs in 50.80 seconds on the main track as a maintenance workout following her debut. Desruisseaux noted, “The workout was about keeping her sharp and teaching her to rate, which she executed well by passing horses at the wire and finishing strong.”
Historically, the Cup and Saucer Stakes has seen legendary performances, including Hall of Fame trainer Jim Day’s remarkable ten wins, seven of them consecutive from 1984 to 1990. The race’s first winner, Suffern, a bay colt foaled from notable lineage, remains a celebrated figure with a durable and successful racing career.
Betting options for the Cup and Saucer include Rolling Double, Exacta, 0.20 Trifecta, 0.20 Superfecta, and $1 Swinger wagers.
The line-up for the Cup and Saucer Stakes includes:
- King’s Counsel – Daisuke Fukumoto – Barb Minshall
- Barger – Jose Campos – Sid Attard
- Mo Cookie – Rico Walcott – Mike De Paulo
- Bunyan – Fraser Aebly – Kevin Attard
- Canada – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse
- Sunny’s Rainbow (S) – Luis Contreras – Mike De Paulo
- Whatta Move – Pietro Moran – Josie Carroll
- Glorious Gem – Rafael Hernandez – Dale Desruisseaux
- Road to Glory – Ryan Munger – John Charalambous
- Ghostface – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse
Originally published by Paulick Report on October 2, 2026.
Fan Take: This spotlight on Glorious Gem’s ambitious step into the Cup and Saucer highlights the thrill of young talent rising to challenge seasoned contenders, underscoring the sport’s rich tradition of breeding and stamina. For horse racing fans, it promises an exciting test of grit and endurance, potentially signaling the emergence of a future star and preserving the allure of classic Canadian turf racing.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
