Just sharply filtered in Md. Juvenile Filly
Frank Vesp- December 6, 2025
Just Philtored shrugged off her challengers to a decisive victory in Saturday’s $125,000 Maryland Juvenile Filly Stakes, putting the exclamation point on a stellar season and nearly clinching champion Maryland-bred two-year-old filly honors.
As for the boys’ division, the picture remained somewhat muddled, as the finish of the Maryland Juvenile Stakes may indicate: the top three were all within striking distance of each other at the wire when Code of Silence rallied late and wide to prevail by a neck.
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Among the local juvenile distaffs, three fillies have emerged virtually at the head of the class: Just Philtored, Slewperstitus and Doc’s Miracle. They had all won at least one previous bet and placed at least one additional bet.
All three qualified for the Juvenile Filly – open this year to horses bred or sired in Maryland or Virginia and carrying an enhanced purse of $125,000. All three were 2.40-1 or less, with Slewperstitus the favorite at 8-5.
But Just Philtored reasserted their authority in Saturday’s match, recording a decisive minute-and-a-half victory over Slewperstitus. The bay filly broke alertly from the center back and followed Project Maximus’ early pace down the rail through fractions of :23.30 and :47.11. Under patient driving from JG Torrealba, Just Philtored moved smoothly around the far bend and took command entering the stretch.
“[Torrealba] let that other horse go further, and you know: [Just Philtored] was kindly reviewed,” says Tana Aubrey, local assistant to trainer Mike Trombetta. “You can put her almost anywhere. I mean, she likes being put up front, but she pushed through and finished it.
Slewperstitus made a bold bid from three wide and briefly looked ready to challenge in the top section, but Just Philtored responded easily to urging and pulled away to stop the clock in 1:26.02 for seven furlongs on a fast main track. Doc’s Miracle, who saved ground early before swinging wide, was third but six lengths behind Slewperstitus.
London Reid Thoroughbreds bought the horse privately out of her debut win at Laurel on May 23. Since then, she has won three stakes, and the winner’s share will put her $250,000 in her savings account.
“It turned out pretty well,” Aubrey said. “She’s a keeper.”
Just Philtored paid $6.00 to win, $2.80 to post and $2.10 to show. Runner-up Slewperstitus paid $2.80 and $2.10, while Doc’s Miracle paid $2.10 to show. The $1 exacta (6–4) earned $6.00.
Just Philtored is a Great Notion-bred Maryland out of the winning Malibu Moon mare Slow and Steady. Half-siblings include Malibu Beauty, who won multiple stakes and earned $900,000.
Just Philtored was bred by ZWP Stable and Non Stop Stable and is owned by London Reid Thoroughbreds.
The Juvenile, on the other hand, drew an even field of nine – Biker Baley was dropped – which combined for a zero-stakes win.
The Tim Keefe-trained Code of Silence, fresh off a first score, was the now horse and went away as the 9-5 favorite after time. And he delivered.
Code of Silence produced an exciting late rally to beat GQ Worthy by a neck in a dramatic finish, with Tartabull another half-length further back.
The dark brown gelding finished last after the opening quarter in :23.06 on a good course. As the pace unfolded over half a mile in :46.63, set by Sometime and Big Bolton as Worker Bee applied pressure, Code of Silence began to build momentum into the far turn, swinging seven wide into the stretch under Angel Cruz with a sustained, grinding run.
“It wasn’t ideal,” winning coach Tim Keefe said of his offense’s slow start. “But it takes a while for this horse to get going. And again, it wasn’t ideal, but he can pick himself up again.”
Just as he had done in his first score on November 16, Code of Silence went on a furious run to exhaust his enemies and triumph. But while the first score was open, this one was a frantic finish as GQ Worthy and Tartabull were both in the picture.
“Obviously Angel is a very talented, very good rider and puts a lot of time into this horse in the morning to figure him out,” Keefe said. “And it clearly paid off.”
Code of Silence stopped the clock in 1:27.23. The winner was appealed by Tartabull’s trainer Chad Summers due to disruption near the wire, but the stewards left the original order of finish intact.
Code of Silence paid $5.80 to win, $3.80 to place and $2.60 to show, while runner-up GQ Worthy, who was at 26-1, returned $14.40 and $6.40. The $1 exacta (5–1) paid $49.90.
Code of Silence is now 2-for-5 with profits of over $125,000.
By Blofeld, he is out of the Oratory mare Tough Talkin Lady and is a half-brother to the ranked Tattooed. He was bred in Maryland by Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Holt and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Palumbo and is owned by Holt’s Mount Peru Farm. The Holts also bred Tough Talkin Lady and her mother Bold Questor.
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