Shifty She steps up to Grade 1 Just a Game for next start

Following one of her best performances yet, Shifty She now will wait for the Grade 1 Just a Game on June 11 at Belmont Park, according to the connections of the speedy 6-year-old mare.

Shifty She was thoroughly dominant Sunday in the 19th annual Florida Cup series at Tampa Bay Downs, controlling the Distaff Turf from the outset in a four-length triumph. The Distaff Turf was one of six $110,000 stakes restricted to Florida-breds held amid ideal conditions at the Oldsmar, Fla., track.

Chris Pallas, who co-bred Shifty She and is the managing partner in Pedigree Partners, the group that owns her, said an interim race “is not on our radar” and that trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. now will focus on having her ready for the one-mile Just a Game while keeping her stabled at the Palm Meadows training center on the Atlantic Coast.

“We couldn’t be happier with her,” said Pallas.

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Shifty She, winner of the Grade 3 Noble Damsel last fall on the Belmont turf, is the most accomplished of the horses that captured the six stakes. Edwin Gonzalez was aboard the bay mare who now has won 7 of 13 starts and $453,495. She earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure, equaling a career high.

As for the other Florida Cup races:

◗ King Cab ($9.60, 92 Beyer), with Emisael Jaramillo riding for Eddie Plesa, led every step in easily winning the Sophomore.

◗ Treasure King ($4.40, 85 Beyer), with Javier Castellano riding for Todd Pletcher, was along late to win the Sophomore Turf to stay unbeaten in two starts.

◗ Midnight Stroll ($16.80, 82 Beyer), fresh off a Tampa maiden win, led gate to wire in the Sophomore Fillies for jockey Pablo Morales and trainer John Terranova.

◗ Drama Chorus ($25, 94 Beyer), ridden by Alonso Quinonez for Tim Padilla, led throughout in upsetting the Turf Classic.

◗ Pudding ($9.60, 97 Beyer) turned back Tap It to Win in a hard-earned score in the Sprint for Castellano and trainer Elizabeth Dobles.

The Florida Cup ended the stakes schedule at the 2021-22 Tampa meet, which began Nov. 24 and effectively runs through May 8.