Weaver hopes Up in Smoke keeps winning and learning

Up in Smoke is unbeaten, but she’s far from perfect.

At least that’s the way trainer George Weaver looks at it as he prepares the 3-year-old filly for her first start in open company and first against older horses in Sunday’s first-level optional-claiming feature at Gulfstream Park. There are 11 races on Sunday’s card, which begins shortly after 1 p.m.

Up in Smoke, a daughter of The Big Beast, won her debut against 10 fellow Florida-breds on Feb. 8, stalking a moderate pace before taking over mid-race and drawing off to a 4 3/4-length victory under Irad Ortiz Jr. Up in Smoke came back on March 5 in a Florida-bred optional claimer and, after breaking with the field, dropped back to last under John Velazquez before re-rallying to win by four lengths.

“At the three-eighths pole, I thought we were going to get beat 30 lengths,” Weaver said. “At the quarter pole, I thought we were going to win. That’ll probably be the only time that ever happens to me.”

Weaver said Velazquez told him Up in Smoke seemed to resent the kickback early in that March 5 race.

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“She wasn’t throwing her head or anything, but that’s what he told me,” Weaver said.

With Velazquez home in New York, Luis Saez picks up the mount.

While Weaver is naturally hoping Up in Smoke wins this race, he’s also hoping she continues to improve with racing experience.

“I consider it more about learning how to run properly and getting things right,” Weaver said. “Technically, she won last time, but she didn’t do things the right way. If she continues to try that, if she doesn’t break that habit, it’s going to cost her wins.”

In looking at Sunday’s field, Weaver said “it doesn’t look overwhelming to me. It’s a great place to see if she can keep stepping her game up and try not to make any mistakes.”

Alandra, a daughter of Blame, makes her second start off the layoff for trainer Shug McGaughey. Third as the favorite in the Grade 1 Alcibiades last October at Keeneland, Alandra finished second to repeating winner Fashion Babe in this condition on Feb. 28. We Miss Susie, the third-place finisher from that race, came back to clear this allowance condition March 21.

Joel Rosario, who rode Alandra in her first three career starts, is back aboard Sunday.

Midtown Rose, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. is a five-time winner, mostly in starter-allowance-type races. She did finish second against open company in an optional claimer March 15 and projects to get a good outside stalking trip under Tyler Gaffalione. She has four wins and four seconds in 10 starts over the Gulfstream main track.

Sammie Sunshine, a six-time winner, Crumb Bun, and R Prerogative could all be part of the early pace scenario.