Jojo’s Dream can fire fresh

Full and competitive fields make up most of the 11 races carded Sunday at Gulfstream Park West, and the featured 10th race – a first-level allowance race with a $25,000 claiming option that drew 16 entries – is no exception. There are 14 horses entered for turf, 12 will start, and two as main track only. If the race is moved to dirt, Mr. Kisses will be tough to beat.

On turf, it is a more competitive race with Jojo’s Dream and Shana Tova the main protagonists in the 7 1/2-furlong dash. Both are coming off layoffs, though, which makes the race a wide-open affair.

Jojo’s Dream should be favored. He can fire fresh and has been working as if he’s ready for a big effort coming off the bench. He will be making his first start for trainer Sally Mitchelhill.

In his last start, for trainer Ralph Ziadie on June 29 in a similar race at Gulfstream Park, he sat just off the speed early, took the lead on the second turn, and was game in defeat while losing by a neck to Jagr.

Jojo’s Dream drew post 4 and should get a nice trip from a forward position with leading apprentice jockey Romero Maragh aboard.

Trained by Ralph Nicks, Shana Tova hasn’t raced since July 7, when he finished second going a mile on turf in the $100,000 Not Surprising Stakes for 3-year-olds at Gulfstream. It was a strong effort, especially considering he was up against it breaking from the 12-hole. In his only start against older horses, he finished third behind next-out winners One of a Kind and Erasmo’s Dream in a first-level allowance race with a $25,000 claiming option June 2.

The versatile Florida-bred colt will break from post 3 with Edgard Zayas riding.

KEY CONTENDERS

Jojo’s Dream, by Discreetly Mine Last 3 Beyers: 86-86-62

◗ He has won a third of his 15 starts and in his most recent win – a first-level allowance race for Florida-breds that had a $16,000 claiming option May 11 – he was coming off a 104-day layoff.

Shana Tova, by Algorithms Last 3 Beyers: 83-81-71

◗ The lightly raced 3-year-old was on the upswing when he took the rest of the summer off, and he’s been working steadily for his return.

FORMULATOR FACT: Nicks has a 16 percent strike rate with horses coming back in between 61 and 180 days over the past five years.

Graham’s Way, by Tapit Last 3 Beyers: 80-65-66

◗ The Michael Stidhamtrained 3-year-old took a big step forward when he finished third in a first-level allowance race with a $20,000 claiming option Oct. 1 at Delaware Park. He is a half-brother to a turf winner, so he could make a big impact running on grass for the first time.

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