Filibustin takes her speed to the turf

ELMONT, N.Y. – Friday’s optional $85,000 claiming feature might not have been trainer Gary Contessa’s first option for his speedy mare Filibustin. Nor was it likely his second or third choice, either.

But now that she’s in the six-furlong turf dash for fillies and mares, Contessa is excited at the prospect of finally trying to give Filibustin the opportunity to see what she can do on the grass.

Filibustin is one of seven horses in Friday’s main event, with Satisfy entered for the main track only. Filibustin also is the only horse entered for turf who has never run on grass.

“I have absolutely banged my head against the wall trying to get a race for this filly on the main track,” Contessa said. “I even tried entering her at Delaware, but that race wound up with only two horses in the box. So since finding dirt race for her hasn’t happened, we’re left with this spot. She’s coming out of her skin at the moment and needs to run. And any time is the right time to try the turf, and this is the hand dealt to me at the moment.”

Filibustin has won five times and been first or second in 9 of 18 career starts. She joined Contessa’s barn prior to the start of her 2019 campaign and was an instant success, wiring an optional claimer over the main track at Aqueduct. She has not started since finishing second in a race taken off the grass on April 19 at Laurel. Kendrick Carmouche rides Filibustin on Friday.

“She’s galloped over the turf and moves nicely on it and it’s not going to hurt anything to give her a shot on the grass,” Contessa said. “She’s quick and will probably be on the lead. I’ve got the Carmouche engine aboard, so that’s pretty much the game plan.”

Trainer Jorge Duarte Jr. will ship a pair of key contenders from New Jersey for the race in Misericordia and Boos. Misericordia finished third in stakes at Monmouth Park and Pimlico going five furlongs on the grass in her last two starts, but was off the board in her four tries over the Belmont turf. Boos will try to halt an eight-race losing streak that dates back to an allowance win at Monmouth in August 2017.

Factorofwon and Jc’s Shooting Star will both get some much-needed class relief after keeping a steady diet of stakes company this season. Jc’s Shooting Star was second and third in a pair of New York-bred stakes among her last three starts. Souper Striking, another with plenty of stakes experience, completes the lineup.