BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Just a Philly leads a Florida-bred contingent that includes Poiema and Girvin Star into Saturday’s $100,000 Sheer Drama, a seven-furlong tilt for eight fillies and mares at Gulfstream Park.
The 4-year-old daughter of recently passed Girvin had her two-race winning streak halted last out when third in the $79,000 Musical Romance at Gulfstream on June 27, but trainer Herbert Miller has her pointed on Saturday to avenge that loss to winner Kerry’s Kiss and Indy Bay, both entered back for the Sheer Drama.
Just a Philly won consecutive races in $20,000 optional claiming starter allowances at Gulfstream on May 9 and June 7 after just missing her first black-type win when second to graded stakes-winner Nic’s Style the $100,000 FHBPA Sprint versus Florida-breds at Gulfstream on April 25.
Herbert and owner Marc Knight claimed Just a Philly for $12,500 out of a three-length victory at Gulfstream in February and has seen her productively win two, with two seconds and a third in five starts—earning $91,160. For her career, Just a Philly sports seven wins, three seconds and three thirds with a $227,860 bankroll.
Out of the Big Drama mare One Hot Drama, Just a Philly was bred in Florida by Hallmarc Stallions. A two-time graduate of Ocala Breeders’ Sales, she was a $61,000 purchase by Michael Sucher’s Champion Equine at the 2023 Winter Mixed Sale where she was consigned by Get Away Farm. She then did not meet her reserve as a 2-year-old at the 2024 OBS Spring Sale.
Just a Philly gets a new rider in the Sheer Drama as Miquel Vasquez takes the call for the first time. Just a Philly has post two and is 10-1 on the morning line.
Jose Castro trains Poiema for JC Racing Stable after claiming her for $25,000 in March of last year. She has since racked up $80,055 in six starts, winning twice with a second.
She took a $25,000 starter allowance at Gulfstream in June of last year in her first race for Castro then had an off-the-board finish in the Sheer Drama followed by a six-and-a-half-length romp in a second condition, $32,000 optional claiming at Tampa Bay Downs in December. She was out of the money twice in upper level, $100,000 optional claiming races at Tampa in January and March before finishing second last time in an upper tier, $62,500 optional claiming won by Indy Bay at Gulfstream on May 24.
Poiema has career earnings of $355,693 from seven wins, eight seconds and four thirds in 37 starts after being a bargain $14,000 selection by Larry Bates in the 2021 OBS June Sale where she was consigned by Little Farm Equine. She was also consigned by Francis and Barbara Vanlanendonck’s Summerfield at OBS in the 2020 October Yearling Sale, bringing $9,000 on a final bid from Servando Espinoza.
She is by Pleasant Acres Stallions’ Neolithic out of Coco’s Legacy, by Mass Media and was bred in Florida by Cheryl Janine McGuire and James Patrick McGuire of St. Augustine.
Leonel Reyes will ride Poiema from the inside post and they are 20-1 on the morning line.
Girvin Star, a wire-to-wire winner of a first condition allowance for Florida-bred fillies and mares two starts back, enters for trainer Marcial Cornejo, who co-owns the filly in the name of his Cornejo Racing with Sebastian Pinto.
Most recently, Girvin Star was fourth in a first condition, $25,000 optional claiming at Gulfstream on July 18.
Girvin Star is by Girvin out of Albea Star, by A. P. Warrior and was bred in Florida by Palm Beach Racing III. She has earned $168,320 in a 26-race career from four wins, four seconds and two thirds. Cornejo Racing bought her for $40,000 out of the Ortiz Training Stable consignment at the 2023 OBS March Sale.
Girvin Star will break from the outside post eight and will be ridden by Yolber Torres. They are listed at 30-1 in the program.
Also set for the Sheer Drama are Domino Vitali and jockey Jose Morelos, Rajiv Maragh rides Bombacha Veloz (Chi), Kerry’s Kiss with Edwin Gonzalez in the saddle and Diego Herrera will guide Permian Basin.
Return to Wire to Wire
