Time Passage brings solid route skills into Cellars Shiraz

Time Passage has mastered two turns on Tapeta and on Friday will be looking to win her fourth straight race at the trip in the $65,000 Cellars Shiraz at Gulfstream Park.

The race shares a card with the $65,000 Our Dear Peggy, which drew a Breeders’ Cup pre-entrant in Bubbly Champagne.

The Cellars Shiraz is a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies on Tapeta. The field of seven includes local runners Flakes, winner of the Game Face in June, and Coco, winner of an overnight handicap against older rivals in August.

But the horse to beat is Time Passage, who has never lost at two turns on Tapeta. She will break from post 7 under Edgard Zayas, who has been aboard for her streak that started in August and includes a win in the $100,000 Miss Gracie in her most recent start Oct. 7 at Gulfstream.

“She’s coming into the race great,” trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. said. “It seems to be her cup of tea again. She’s won her last three starts. She draws an outside post position, but I’m not concerned about it. Edgard has a way of getting horses around the turn. She does not have to be on the lead.”

Time Passage has wired her rivals in her last three starts, but she’s shown versatility in the past and might have to call on different tactics.

“I can see that happening,” Plesa said.

On the Payroll is a new source of speed, invading from a series of turf sprint starts at Monmouth Park and Laurel. She breaks from post 6.

Flakes also can be closer to the pace than she found herself last time, when she hooked a quick group in the Grade 3 Princess Rooney earlier this month at Gulfstream. The race was a Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifier for the Filly and Mare Sprint.

Time Passage has built a strong record on Tapeta, but she’s also won on dirt and was a close fourth in a turf stakes in May. She brings the field’s best collection of recent Beyer Speed Figures into the Cellars Shiraz.

“She’s an improving horse,” Plesa said. “I think she’s got a future. I can’t wait to get her on the turf. She ran on the turf one time, first time going around two turns. She’s a different filly now. She’s very versatile, runs five, five and a half [furlongs] and can stretch out. We’re very fortunate to have her.”

In the Our Dear Peggy for 2-year-old fillies, Bubbly Champagne will be moving to two turns for the first time in the Tapeta race at one mile and 70 yards. She’s proven on the surface as she comes off a local maiden special weight victory Sept. 27.

Bubbly Champagne was pre-entered in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, but did not make the final field. In her last start, she was a 6 1/2-length winner and her 74 Beyer Speed Figure is the best career number in the Our Dear Peggy.

Kiss enters off a runner-up finish to Omaha Girl in the $65,000 Hallandale Beach on Sept. 24 at Gulfstream. Omaha Girl is scheduled to run Friday at Santa Anita in the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.