Cooey Makes Stakes Debut
BY BROCK SHERIDAN
A pair of Florida-bred fillies in Just a Philly and Cooey will try for their first stakes victories Saturday at Gulfstream Park in the $100,000 Musical Romance, a six-and-a-half-furlong test for fillies and mares, 3-years-old and older. Mark Knight’s Just a Philly rides a two-race win streak into the race while Bradley R. Grady’s Cooey returns to dirt as she tries stakes company for the first time.
Just a Philly has won half of her six starts this year with two seconds and has finished in the top three in 12 of 18 career starts, all at Gulfstream.
Claimed by Knight and trainer Herbert Miller for $12,500 out of a three-length victory in February, Just a Philly stepped up in class in her next two starts, finishing second both times. After leading in the stretch of a first level, $25,000 optional claiming on March 22, she was passed late by winner Royal Poppy. She then made her stakes debut, coming from last of four to finish second to graded stakes-winning Florida-bred Nic’s Style in the $97,000 FHBPA Filly and Mare Sprint on April 25.
She is two-for-two since—winning both by three-and-a-quarter lengths in $20,000 optional claiming, $12,000 starter allowances—going six furlongs on May 9 then stretching out to a mile in her last race on June 7.
Just a Philly is by Girvin out of One Hot Drama, by Big Drama and was bred in Florida by Hallmarc Stallions. She has earned $216,200 from seven wins in 18 starts with three seconds and two thirds after graduating for $61,000 out of the Get Away Farm consignment at the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Winter Mixed Sale.
Diego Herrera has ridden Just a Philly in each of her last three races and gets the return mount for Saturday. They have post seven and are 7-2 on the morning line.
Cooey is one of four entries in the Musical Romance for Saffie Joseph Jr., who also saddles Luvumorgan, 7-5 program favorite Indy Bay, and Kerry’s Kiss.
After transferring from trainer Bob Baffert’s barn in Southern California, Cooey won her first two races for Joseph at Gulfstream to complete her sophomore year.
She won a six-furlong maiden special weight for fillies and mares on Nov. 7 then scored in a first condition, $20,000 optional claiming for Florida-bred fillies and mares on Dec. 11.
She is winless in four starts this year, all at Gulfstream but was twice third in first condition, $25,000 optional claiming races in March in April going seven furlongs and six furlongs respectively. Joseph tried her on synthetic last out on June 7, but she did not respond, finishing fifth.
Cooey is also by Girvin out of Secret Song, by Dunkirk and was bred in Florida by Brad and Misty Grady. She has two wins, two seconds and two thirds in 11 starts with earnings of $110,520.
She is rated at 9-2 in the program and will be guided by Rasheed Hughes from post one.
Rounding out the field are Luvumorgan with jockey Rey Williams, Micah Husbands rides Indy Bay, Kerry’s Kiss will have Edwin Gonzalez up, Gallop d’Hermes will have Samy Camacho in the saddle and Leonel Reyes takes the call on Braganza.
Return to the June 26 issue of Wire to Wire
