Can Curl Talk take Shelly Green to new heights?

TODAY’S HEADLINE: Shelly Green’s Curl Talk remains unbeaten – 4-year-old daughter of Ride on Curlin scores by five lengths in $25,900 allowance race at Finger Lakes.

THE SCOOP: Shelly is only a part-time owner and trainer, she works for someone else and in 20 years has only saddled 187 runners, posting an excellent record of 19-31-29 with earnings of $408,421. She purchased Curl Talk for a mere $1,200 from breeder Lonnie Stokes and didn’t race her at two and three because of “poor conformation.” How did she come across the filly who is now a perfect 3-for-3 with one victory at Mountaineer and two at Finger Lakes? “My sister dates Lonnie’s son, Lance.”

THE PRESENT: In her debut at Mountaineer on May 3 Curl Talk won by two lengths, followed by a 7 3/4 victory at Finger Lakes under Emanuel De Diego on May 23. De Diego was aboard again yesterday and Curl Talk was sitting on the tote board at 4/5 as he took her to the gate. The filly shot to the lead and passed the furlong markers in :22.43 and :46.08 while the final odds change showed her to be second choice at 7/5 as a ton of cash flowed in on Pendolino, who was now at even money. Curl Talk coasted to the wire in front by five, clocked in :58.96 for the five furlongs and she paid $4.90. The winner’ check of $13,740 raised her three-race total to $36,990, best for any Ride on Curlin runner thus far in 2022.

THE FUTURE: Shelly lives with her husband David on a five-acre farm with a six-stall barn in Dunnellon, just down the road from Pleasant Acres. Twice in her 20 years she has had three winners, in 2016 and 2018, so Curl Talk could change that in the near future. And, she has never had a stakes-winner or stakes-placed runner . . . so who knows?