Pletcher starts Julia Shining a little shorter for comeback

Julia Shining launches what could be the start of a significant campaign Sunday when she returns to action in a second-level allowance at Aqueduct.

The Grade 2 winner is part of a field of eight fillies and mares in the one-turn mile that goes as the eighth race. Her rivals include stakes winner Ringy Dingy, who was cross-entered in the Safely Kept that was to have been run Saturday at Laurel Park, and Golden Degree, winner of what has become a key allowance in her most recent start Oct. 4.

Julia Shining, who last raced in May, has been gearing up for her return with a series of forward works in New York.

:: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets.

“She’s been training well and we’re looking forward to getting her started again,” said Todd Pletcher, who trains Julia Shining for her breeder, Stonestreet Stables. “She’s obviously a filly that’s shown some talent and should improve as she ages, so we’re excited about getting her going.”

Julia Shining is a 4-year-old daughter of Curlin and the Grade 1-winning mare Dreaming of Julia, which makes her a full sister to champion Malathaat. Julia Shining was fourth in the Allaire du Pont in her most recent start May 17 at Pimlico.

“We felt like she didn’t quite run her race, so we sent her to Stonestreet Ocala for a little freshening after that,” Pletcher said.

The Du Pont has proven to be a productive race, with runner-up Musical Mischief going on to win the Grade 2 Locust Grove at Churchill Downs. As for Julia Shining, the Beyer Speed Figure of 85 that she earned is the second-best last-race number in the allowance Sunday behind an 86 earned by Golden Degree.

Julia Shining will be cutting back from 1 1/8 miles for her first start back, which will come from post 4 under Dylan Davis.

“She broke her maiden going seven-eighths at Keeneland first-time out and came from way out of it,” Pletcher said. “I think she should have a little more tactical speed, but we felt like a mile was a good starting point. She’s a natural two-turn type of filly, so I think getting this race under her belt will hopefully move her forward for a longer race.”

Julia Shining won the Grade 2 Demoiselle at Aqueduct in December 2022 and ran second by a nose in the Grade 3 Comely in November 2023.

Pletcher will also send out Courbe, a 3-year-old moving back to dirt off a close fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 Sands Point on turf at the Belmont at Aqueduct meet.

“It was kind of an aggressive placement to see how she liked the grass and I think that’s something we could still consider down the road,” said Pletcher.

Courbe will break from post 6 under Jose Gomez. She could sit closer to the pace than Julia Shining.

“She has maybe a touch more tactical speed,” Pletcher said. “We’ll just see where she kind of finds herself comfortably and go from there.”

Courbe is a stakes-placed daughter of Quality Road who races for her breeder, Wertheimer and Frere.

Golden Degree comes off a five-length allowance win in which she led throughout over six furlongs. She has been flattered with the race producing two next-out winners. They include Cara’s Time, who came back to take the Iroquois at Aqueduct.

Sweetest Princess is a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Defunded.

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