Debut winner Up in Smoke likely for a statebred stakes at Tampa

Trainer George Weaver said he will point for a seven-furlong restricted stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in late March with Up in Smoke, a 3-year-old filly who earned a 76 Beyer Speed Figure in winning her career debut last Saturday at Gulfstream.

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“She really didn’t tout her hand in the morning,” Weaver said after the daughter of The Big Beast won by 4 3/4 lengths. “She had works that I’d call ordinary. But it was time to get started, and obviously we were very happy with the way she ran.”

Weaver said he “wouldn’t mind getting another race” for Up in Smoke prior to the Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies, one of six $110,000 stakes for Florida-breds on March 29 at Tampa, “but the timing would have to be just right. I’m not a big fan of running back too quick with a horse that wins first out the way she did.”