Shifty She using Florida Cup as springboard to Grade 1 Just a Game
Florida-breds who went on to prove themselves in Grade 1 company have captured races in the annual Florida Cup at Tampa Bay Downs, with World Approval and Imperial Hint being the most notable winners in recent years.
The Florida Cup will be renewed Sunday at Tampa in Oldsmar, Fla., and trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. is hoping the event sets up Shifty She, one of his emerging stable stars, for similar success when she runs in the Distaff Turf, one of six $110,000 races that make up the 19th Florida Cup.
“We’re looking at the Tampa race to get us ready for the Just a Game,” a Grade 1 turf race on the June 11 Belmont Stakes undercard, said Joseph. “That’s a one-turn mile on the grass and we really think that’ll be her at her best.”
Shifty She is one of the more recognizable names expected when Sunday entries are drawn Thursday at Tampa. Bred and owned by Pedigree Partners, a group co-owned and managed by longtime Fort Lauderdale resident Chris Pallas, the 6-year-old Gone Astray mare already is a Grade 3 winner, having accounted for the Noble Damsel last fall on the Belmont Park turf. She most recently was third behind Regal Glory as the pacesetter in the inaugural Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Gulfstream Park.
“We think she can take her game to another level,” said Pallas. “Her latest work,” a three-furlong breeze in 36.40 seconds Saturday at Palm Meadows, “was really sharp. Hopefully this puts us right on target for the Just a Game.”
Joseph said Monday he also will run Lovely Luvy in the Distaff Turf, adding that several others in his stable are possible Florida Cup starters, including Freedom Matters and Max K. O. in the Turf Classic and Officiating in the Sprint.
These are the Florida Cup races: Turf Classic, for older horses at 1 1/8 miles on turf; Distaff Turf, for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf; Sprint, for older horses at six furlongs; Sophomore Turf, for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf; Sophomore, for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs; and Sophomore Fillies, for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs.
The Florida Cup concludes the stakes schedule at the 2021-22 meet, which began Nov. 24 and runs through May 8.
Joseph, who tops the trainer standings at the Gulfstream championship meet, which ends April 3, chose not to make the trip this week to Dubai, where he’ll be represented by Drain the Clock in the $2 million Golden Shaheen. He said he is a “maybe” to make the drive over Sunday to Tampa from his Atlantic Coast base. “It is a little closer than Dubai,” he laughed.
◗ Bobby Raymond has been named trainer of the month at Tampa by a local sponsor after sending out four winners in a recent span of five racing days, including two on Festival Day (March 12) and another with a 29-1 shot, Magicgirl, the following day. Raymond, 74, began training in 1979 in his native Rhode Island.
◗ A modest nine-race Wednesday card without so much as an allowance kicks off another four-day race week at Tampa. First post is 12:14 p.m. Eastern. Turf racing (races 5, 7, 9) most likely will be held as scheduled given a forecast of mostly sunny skies and a high of 83.
◗ Samy Camacho (70 wins) and Gerald Bennett (26 wins) continue in their familiar positions atop the local jockey and trainer standings.