Speed Shopper takes Florence; Final Gambit returning in Last Hurrah

Dec 21, 2025 Jennie Rees No Comments

Turfway Park stakes recap by publicist Kevin Kerstein (Coady Media photo of Speed Shopper winning the Florence Stakes)

FLORENCE, Ky. (Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025) – Gary Barber, Bridlewood Farm and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Speed Shopper made a bold three-wide move on the far turn and dug in late to get past favored Ayra Stark (ARG) in deep stretch to win Saturday’s inaugural running of the $119,168 Florence Stakes at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming.

Trained by Will Walden and ridden by Danny Sheehy, Speed Shopper completed the classic 1 ¼-mile distance in 2:03.39. It was the first stakes victory for Speed Shopper and first North American stakes victory for Sheehy.

Starter Caleb Hays caught the field of 11 in a perfect line as 23-1 longshot Noirset the early place into the first turn while traveling an opening quarter-mile in :24.09. As Noir entered the backstretch, she was tracked by 5-2 favorite Ayra Stark, who was traveling about two lengths behind in second. Following a half-mile in :49.04 and three-quarters of a mile in 1:14.29, jockey Victor Corrasco began asking Ayra Stark to engage Noir but had to hold off a late bid of Speed Shopper, who was rallying three wide. In mid-stretch, Speed Shopper was able to put her head in front of Ayra Stark and finished well to the wire for a half-length victory.

Adrasteia, under jockey Edgar Morales, completed the trifecta. She was followed by Boss Lady Bailey, Duvet Day (IRE), Settling Storm, Cozee Rags, Peak Popularity, Sabalenka, Noir and Dazzlin’ Dictator.

The Florence Stakes was the second victory in Speed Shopper’s eight-race campaign. She improved her earnings to $210,398.

Speed Shopper is a 4-year-old daughter of Quality Road out of the Malibu Moon mare Fast Retailing. She was bred in Kentucky by AR Enterprises and Edward Easton.

Live racing resumes Sunday at Turfway Park for the rescheduled $1 million Synthetic Championships. The 10-race program has a special first post of 3 p.m. ET. For more information, visit www.turfway.com.

JEFF RUBY STEAKS WINNER FINAL GAMBIT RETURNS TO TURFWAY FOR LAST HURRAH – Juddmonte’s Jeff Ruby Steaks (Grade III) winner Final Gambit will return to Turfway Park Racing & Gaming next Saturday to face eight fellow 3-year-olds entered in the first running of the $125,000 Last Hurrah.

The Last Hurrah, created to give 3-year-olds a final opportunity to face their own age group before the calendar turns to the new year, is the featured event on the 10-race program. First post is 5:55 p.m. with the 1 1/8-mile Last Hurrah going to post as Race 8 at 9:25 p.m.

Trained by Brad Cox, Final Gambit scored a last-to-first victory in the March 22 Jeff Ruby Steaks under Luan Machado and qualified for Kentucky Derby 151 where he finished fourth. Following a fourth-place finish in the June 8 Matt Winn (GIII), Final Gambit switched surfaces to turf but finished outside the top four in four tries. Machado will be back in the saddle for the Last Hurrah and break from post No. 3.

Other accomplished rivals in the race include Aaron and Victoria Haberman’s John Battaglia Memorial (Listed) winner California Burrito; Three Diamonds Farm’s Hawthorne Derby winner Anegada and Godolphin’s Churchill Downs allowance winner Energize.

The field for the Last Hurrah in order of post position (with jockey and trainer):