13-year-old Missing Sefa still loves her job

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Missing Sefa will make her 109th career start Thursday when she lines up against seven other fillies and mares in the fourth race at Churchill, and owner-trainer Jamie Grubbs said the 13-year-old mare will be very happy to do so.

“She loves what she does,” Grubbs said this week from her Belterra Park barn. “She loves training and being at the track and all the attention she gets. We’ll stop on her as soon as she says she’s ready, but so far, that day hasn’t come.”

Missing Sefa is coming full circle Thursday: She made her career debut at Churchill on May 12, 2004, finishing sixth in a $50,000 maiden-claiming race. She won her next start on May 26, 2004, for a $15,000 tag. More than 11 years later, she now has 28 wins, 19 seconds, and 18 thirds for earnings of $350,621. She is in for a $7,500 claiming tag Thursday.

“I’ve been trying to run her up here at Belterra, but her races haven’t filled,” said Grubbs.