J J's Dreaming stretching out in allowance

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – That J J’s Dreaming made his first three starts on turf was more about distance than it was surface. Friday at Aqueduct, J J’s Dreaming gets his first opportunity to run a true distance of ground on the dirt in a first-level/optional $25,000 claiming event.

With only five career starts, J J’s Dreaming is the least experienced of the eight New York-bred colts and geldings entered in this field. However, only one member of this group – Charming Indy – has had success at the 1 1/8-mile distance of this race.

Trainer Mark Hennig believes the two turns and distance of this race should suit J J’s Dreaming.

“I’ve always looked forward to running him around two turns,” Hennig said Wednesday at Belmont Park. “That’s kind of the reason we went to the grass early was to try and get him stretched out right away. He’s a big, tall, leggy horse. When I saw this race, I thought the mile and an eighth should suit him really well.”

J J’s Dreaming went 0 for 3 on the turf, once at Saratoga and twice at Belmont. Following a two-month break, J J’s Dreaming won a one-turn mile maiden race at Aqueduct on Dec. 15. He came back 30 days later, and after dueling on the lead he faded to fourth, beaten four lengths.

Between those two races, the New York area was hit with severe cold and snow that played havoc with horses’ training schedules.

“He’s such a big horse,” Hennig said. “Some of them probably benefitted from that respite – not him. He needed to get out there and train.”

The other logical contenders are Chilly Bon Bon, Blugrascat’s Smile, and Charming Indy, the second-, third- and fourth-place finishers from a similar race here on Jan. 18.

KEY CONTENDERS

J J’s Dreaming, by Freud
Last 3 Beyers: 62-78-68

◗ He looks to have the tactical speed to be a pace presence in a field without much pace.

◗ Hennig believes the gelding “probably needed the race” the day he finished fourth in a one-turn mile on Jan. 14.

Charming Indy, by Girolamo
Last 3 Beyers: 78-68-NA

◗ Showed a reluctance to want to pass horses when taken off the pace on Jan. 18. Bounced back with a better effort when a pace factor going 1 1/4 miles last out.

“When I ran him back we got him to the race early,” said trainer Chris Englehart, who admitted that the 5-year-old gelding has a bad tendency to hang at times.

Chilly Bon Bon, by Frost Giant
Last 3 Beyers: 72-72-56

◗ A well-beaten second behind easy-as-he-pleased winner Becker’s Galaxy on Jan. 18.

◗ He is reunited with Kendrick Carmouche, aboard for this gelding’s last win, a front-running score over the inner track in December 2016.