Undefeated Tonalist's Shape to be Tested in Forward Gal
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Ryan Thompson
Tonalist's Shape closes 2019 with a dominating victory in the Hut Hut Stakes at Gulfstream Park
After winning her three juvenile starts by a combined 13 lengths, Tonalist's Shape appears poised to tackle graded stakes competition for the first time in the $150,000 Forward Gal Stakes (G3) Feb. 1 at Gulfstream Park.
The seven-furlong test for 3-year-old fillies also will mark the 2020 debut for Slam Dunk Racing, Legacy Ranch, and Doug Branham's Tonalist's Shape, who rolled to a nine-length score in the one-mile Hut Hut Stakes Nov. 30 at Gulfstream to close 2019. That was the stakes debut for the daughter of Tonalist .
"The last race was very impressive," trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. "You can never foresee anything like that happening, but it was more impressive than we thought. We knew that when she went longer, it would get better, but it was more impressive than we were expecting."
Tonalist's Shape delivered a strong breeze Jan. 19, completing four furlongs in :47.49 at Gulfstream—the fourth-fastest of 70 moves at the distance. She followed with a five-furlong work Jan. 26 in 1:01.65.
"She's not an overly zealous work horse, but last time we gave her a little target and put her like a length and a half behind, and she ran by the target readily and galloped out strong," Joseph said. "I think everything's in place for her to run a big race."
Video: Hut Hut S. (BT)
After rallying from eighth to win her 5 1/2-furlong maiden debut Sept. 28 at Gulfstream, Tonalist's Shape was purchased privately from owner/breeder Sabana Racing Stable, which had her with trainer Juan Avila.
Though Tonalist's Shape will open the year sprinting, her connections have the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) as the spring goal. Following the Forward Gal, Gulfstream's series for 3-year-old fillies continues with the Feb. 29 Davona Dale Stakes (G2) and March 28 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2).
"She's improved each race as the distances have gotten longer, and she's going to get better as she goes longer. I know we're cutting back in distance a little bit, but she got a little break after her last race," Joseph said. "The timing just worked out to give her a little break to set her back up for the series here—hopefully, the Davona Dale and the Gulfstream Oaks and then the Kentucky Oaks."
Just six fillies were entered in the Forward Gal, where Tonalist's Shape is 1-2 on the morning line.
Two fillies making their stakes debuts in the Forward Gal are Lothenbach Stables' Street of Dreams, who scored a frontrunning maiden win going one mile in the slop Nov. 30 at Churchill Downs, and CJ Thoroughbreds' Compensate, who closed 2019 with an allowance-level victory at Aqueduct Racetrack after a maiden win at Woodbine.
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, February 01, 2020, Race 6Entries: Forward Gal S. (G3)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Nikki and Papa (OH)
Fanny Olsson
118
Robert B. Hess, Jr.
15/1
2
2Compensate (KY)
Jose L. Ortiz
120
Cam M. Gambolati
5/1
3
3Fujairah (KY)
Paco Lopez
118
Carlos A. David
20/1
4
4Street of Dreams (KY)
Chris Landeros
118
Ian R. Wilkes
4/1
5
5New Day Dawning (KY)
Tyler Gaffalione
118
Rodolphe Brisset
8/1
6
6Tonalist's Shape (KY)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
122
Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.
1/2
