Flibberjibit surprisingly in for tag

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Flibberjibit turned into a win machine for trainer Bruce Brown following a claim at Saratoga for $20,000.

The 4-year-old Flibberjibit has reeled off five straight victories since, and looks to extend that streak Friday in Aqueduct's $48,000 second-level allowance feature. The 1 1/16-mile turf race for fillies and mares has an optional claiming price of $50,000.

Somewhat surprisingly, Flibberjibit carries the $50,000 tag.

"She is for sale," Brown said. "We would save the condition if she did win. This is a pretty good bump up from what we paid. It's obvious she likes the grass, and we're running out of turf spots."

There might be takers, especially after Flibberjibit's latest effort, a game win by a head on the step up from a $40,000 claimer to a first-level allowance.

"That race was definitely a true test," Brown said. "It was a big jump up from what she had been running against. It was a pretty big race, and she came out of it great. I'm expecting a big effort out of her, in probably her last chance this year on grass."

Flibberjibit has been versatile during the winning streak. Three victories came on grass, the other two were off-the-turf wins.

"It was a little surprise to us when she really took off on the grass," Brown said. "We look lucky when a couple of off-the-turfers got her confidence going. She really moved up on the grass."

Shake the Moon will also look to move up in a pair of firsts - her debut on Lasix and her initial start for trainer Christophe Clement. A 3-year-old previously trained by Andre Fabre in France, she offered a mild rally to finish sixth in her U.S. debut in the Grade 3 Long Island Handicap at 1 1/2 miles at Aqueduct on Nov.o1.

Impressionism, trained by Shug McGaughey, has a knack for winding up in tight finishes. She has finished no worse than a length behind the winner in her last four starts, and compiled a record of 1-2-1 in that span. Most recently, Impressionism lost by a neck in a money-allowance race at Keeneland.

Always for Love makes her Aqueduct grass debut for Philadelphia Park-based trainer Guadalupe Preciado. Last time out, Always for Love lost by a head at the Meadowlands.

Also in the field are Double Dinghy Day, Naughty Nina, Fonda Ronda Two, According to Plan, and Mpenzi.

Jasmine Gardens was entered for the main track only.