Movin' On Up returns on short rest for Floral Park

ELMONT, N.Y. – After finding Grade 1 company and the quirky Kentucky Downs turf course a little too much to overcome when finishing seventh in the Ladies Turf Sprint, Movin’ On Up figures to rebound in a big way coming to Belmont Park and dropping in against listed competition for the first time this season in Saturday’s $175,000 Floral Park Stakes.

Although ungraded, the six-furlong Floral Park did draw a quality field that also features Love Cervere, another returning on just three weeks’ rest out of the Ladies Turf Sprint; Tabiti, a Group 3 winner in Europe; and the speedy New York-bred stakes winner Highway Harmony.

Movin’ On Up was steadied back in traffic during the early going after breaking from the rail in the 6 1/2-furlong Ladies Turf Sprint. She was ultimately beaten 6 3/4 lengths by her Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained stablemate In Our Time, who registered a mild upset in gate-to-wire fashion for her first Grade 1 win.

In her previous start, Movin’ On Up rallied from last to capture the Grade 2 Caress at Saratoga, a key race from which runner-up Zeitlos returned to win the Smart and Fancy and third-place finisher In Our Time the Ladies Turf Sprint.

“Although she did get shuffled back during the running of the race, the bottom line is she just doesn’t like the Kentucky Downs turf course,” Joseph said. “We kind of knew that going in, but it was a Grade 1 at the right distance, so we had to take a chance.”

:: DRF has you covered for the Belmont meet! Shop for PPs, Clocker Reports, Picks and more.

Joseph said Movin’ On Up, who was also Grade 2-placed on two other occasions earlier this year, exited her last start in good fashion and that he is not concerned by the relatively quick turnaround when bringing her back in just three weeks for the Floral Park.

“She won a stakes” – the Sand Springs – “on just two weeks’ rest at Gulfstream Park the year before last, so that’s not an issue,” Joseph said. “And I think the distance of this race is good for her. Even though she won the Caress going 5 1/2 furlongs, I think that might be a tad short for her and that she’ll enjoy the extra sixteenth on Saturday.”

Kendrick Carmouche will become the seventh different jockey to ride Movin’ On Up in her last seven starts when he steps aboard the likely favorite Saturday.

Love Cervere raced just in front of Movin’ On Up along the rail during the early stages of the Ladies Turf Sprint before fading down the long stretch to finish ninth in the pair’s most recent encounter. They also futilely chased In Our Time home earlier this season in the Grade 2 Giant’s Causeway at Keeneland.

What Love Cervere has in her favor in Saturday’s rematch is the distance, as she is unbeaten in four previous starts at six furlongs, a streak that includes a one-length victory in the Grade 3 Glen Cove Stakes last fall at Aqueduct.

Tabiti won the Group 3 Oak Tree Stakes last summer at Goodwood in her native England. She shipped to the United States following that victory, making two subsequent starts to close her 3-year-old campaign, including a third-place finish behind ultimate Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Shisospicy in the Grade 2 Music City at Kentucky Downs.

Trained by Brad Cox, Tabiti enters the Floral Park idle since late October, but she has not missed a beat in the morning for several months prepping for her return. She has turned in a strong string of works, the majority over the turf course at the Oklahoma track in Saratoga.

Tabiti will put blinkers back on for her 2026 debut, equipment she wore in both the Oak Tree and Music City but had taken off for her 2025 finale.

Highway Harmony, a former $17,500 claimer, had her four-race win streak snapped in her most recent start when second best behind Shoot It True under allowance conditions five weeks earlier at Saratoga. Trained by Amelia Green, Highway Harmony, who won her only two previous starts going six furlongs, figures to contest the pace Saturday along with Quiet Confidence.

“I’m excited to get her back to six furlongs. I think she’s better at it than five and one-half, even though I think she ran a great race last time at Saratoga,” Green said. “I was really proud of that effort.”

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.