Maiden Gio Mio fits well in Barretts Juvenile

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – Trainer Art Sherman rarely second-guesses himself. But he admits to reservations with Gio Mio, a leading contender Sunday in the $100,000 Barretts Juvenile at Los Alamitos.

“You run a maiden in a stakes, and you wonder if you’re doing the right thing,” he said.

Sherman is doing the right thing. Gio Mio finished a sharp second in his debut, despite pre-race shenanigans, and enters the Barretts Juvenile as a different colt.

“He’s more developed now, mentally,” Sherman said. “He’s quieted down.”

Gio Mio is one of seven maidens in a field going 6 1/2 furlongs. Good For It, runner-up his only start, will enter with the top last-out speed figure. Toews On Ice is a speedy maiden, and Knight of Drama was a troubled second in a $30,000 maiden-claiming race last out.

Annie’s Candy is one of three winners and arguably the “class” of the field. He set the pace and finished fifth last out in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity. He previously finished third in the Grade 2 Best Pal.

Cliff Sise trains maidens Good For It and Storming Candy. Good For It finished more than 13 lengths in front of Storming Candy when they made their career debuts in the same race Aug. 23 at Del Mar.

“Going in, I thought they were pretty equal,” Sise said. “Storming Candy did race very green. I’m putting cheaters [blinkers] on him to keep him more focused.”

Barretts Juvenile, Race 8

KEY CONTENDERS

Good For It (Last Beyer: 81)

◗ “Six and a half looks right up his alley,” Sise said. “He ran great in his debut. He just needed another jump and he wins it.”

◗ Rafael Bejarano replaces Corey Nakatani on Good For It, whose outside post and pressing style should lead to a good trip. A son of Neko Bay, Good For It finished more than 13 lengths clear of third in his debut.

Gio Mio (Last Beyer: 55)

◗ Gio Mio is a feisty horse that Sherman said required a lot of schooling.

“He wants to kick all the time, but he’s got a lot of talent.”

◗ When he made his debut Aug. 14 at Del Mar, Gio Mio was fractious in the post parade and balked at the gate. He finally loaded, dropped to last by 12 lengths, and then flew late and missed by a neck.

◗ Sherman said Gio Mio, sired by Gio Ponti, “is coming into this race pretty nice.”

Annie’s Candy (Last 3 Beyers: 36-76-67)

◗ Annie’s Candy, who already is making his sixth career start, set a fast half-mile (44.54 seconds) in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity and tired. That race was 13 days ago.

◗ Peter Miller trains Annie’s Candy, who won a maiden race at Los Alamitos in July and has the top speed figure in the field. However, that 84 Beyer was earned four starts back in June at Santa Anita.