Choose Joy Takes To Tapeta In Miami Shores

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Trainer Stephen Dwoskin’s Choose Joy made her Tapeta debut a winning one Saturday at Gulfstream Park, where the 4-year-old daughter of Munnings claimed her third consecutive overnight handicap trophy in the $60,000 Miami Shores.

Choose Joy, the 4/5 favorite ridden by Miguel Vasquez, came into the 5 1/2-furlong event for fillies and mares on Gulfstream’s all-weather course off back-to-back overnight handicap victories on turf.

“All she wants to do is win,” Dwoskin said. “She’s like Tom Brady.”

Choose Joy carried 126 pounds, conceding 9-10 pounds to her six rivals. The Kentucky-bred filly, who has 2 wins on dirt and 4 victories on turf to her credit, added an all-weather score to her credit in her usual off-the-pace style.

Choose Joy settled several lengths off pacesetter Cat’s Astray while racing on the outside before making an extended drive around the far turn to enter contention entering the stretch. The bettors’ choice kicked in with her usual energy in the stretch to prevail by 2 1/2 lengths.

Choose Joy ran 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05.85 to give Vasquez his third straight victory on Saturday’s card. Naughty Shirley rallied late to finish second, a neck ahead of Awsum Roar.