Tonalist's Shape First Stakes Winner for Tonalist
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Ryan Thompson
Tonalist's Shape wins the Hut Hut Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Slam Dunk Racing, Legacy Ranch, and Doug Branham's Tonalist's Shape rolled her record to 3-for-3 Nov. 30 in the $75,000 Hut Hut Stakes at Gulfstream Park and gave Lane's End stallion Tonalist his first stakes winner.
The chestnut filly made her first start in stakes company and her second start for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. The 6-5 favorite in the 1-mile event for 2-year-old fillies, Tonalist's Shape sat off the pace under jockey Samy Camacho while Filly Jean King jumped out to a quick lead and set fractions of :24.29 and :47.29. Tonalist's Shape was a length in front with only a quarter-mile left, ticking off six furlongs in 1:11.78, and drew off to an easy nine-length win. She finished in 1:36.62 on a fast main track.
"It was visually more impressive than I thought. I knew she was doing well, but she was taking a step up in class," Joseph said.
Tonalist's Shape was bred in Kentucky by Sabana Farm and is the first foal out of the stakes-winning Harlan's Holiday mare Hitechnoweenie. She first raced for Sabana Racing Stable and trainer Juan Carlos Avila after failing to meet her reserve twice in the auction ring, hammering for $45,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and $60,000 at the 2019 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.
Tonalist's Shape landed a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight Sept. 28 at Gulfstream at first asking. After being purchased privately, she rallied for a 2 3/4-length score facing winners in an optional claimer going 6 1/2 furlongs Oct. 20 at Gulfstream Park West. She's collected $98,280 in earnings.
"I was happy that she delivered what she showed in the morning," Joseph said. "I'm thankful that the owners that bought this filly—they paid a lot of money after her first race—gave her to us. We're fortunate to have her."
Connections initially considered trying graded company Saturday in the 1 1/16-mile Golden Rod Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs but opted to stay home due to an unfavorable weather forecast in Kentucky.
"I definitely thought that's what she wants to do—the longer the better," Joseph said. "When she works, there's no bottom to her. I was excited to stretch her out, but I wanted to see to believe. She delivered today.
"You start dreaming. We were thinking of going to the Golden Rod, but we changed because the weather didn't look good there. I'm glad we stayed home today. It was a good education for her again, and she did it the right way."
Ultimately, Joseph would like to make the trip to Kentucky with Tonalist's Shape for the May 1 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1). The plan is to prep at Gulfstream and target races such as the Feb. 2 Forward Gal Stakes (G3), Feb. 29 Davona Dale Stakes (G2), and March 28 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2).
"She'll go through the program here," Joseph said. "The dream from now would be the (Kentucky) Oaks. We'll have to work backwards. She's going to have to step up again. The Kentucky Oaks is the long-term goal. When you have a filly like her, that's a dream. You have to have dreams in racing."
Tonalist, winner of the Belmont Stakes (G1), Cigar Mile Handicap (G1), and twice the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1), began his stud career at Lane's End in 2016. The Kentucky stallion by Tapit out of the Pleasant Colony mare Settling Mist will stand for $15,000 in 2020.