Theregoesjojo gets class relief in Thursday allowance
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Theregoesjojo has been keeping some good company at Woodbine, and the long-winded gelding gets some class relief in Thursday’s featured second-level allowance, scheduled for 1 1/4 miles on the main turf.
Theregoesjojo was competitive without winning in $25,000 marathon starter company during the winter at Gulfstream. When returning from a break here July 4, he checked in second to the future Grade 1 Woodbine Mile winner Town Cruise in a second-level allowance over 1 1/16 miles.
Three weeks later, Theregoesjojo rallied for third behind the tough duo of March to the Arch and Belichick going about 1 1/8 miles in the Niagara Stakes. He saved ground in third before flattening out to fourth most recently in the Grade 3 Singspiel over 1 1/4 miles.
Trainer Mike DePaulo said he bypassed the Grade 1 Canadian International going 1 1/2 miles here Sept. 18 with Theregoesjojo in favor of Thursday’s race.
“I was going to go in the International, but when the Europeans showed up, I went in a different direction,” DePaulo said. “I think he’s at his best at a mile and a half and up. I know this is only a mile and a quarter, but it is what it is. It’s unfortunate that they don’t really write a lot of (longer) route races here. I don’t know why he didn’t run that well in Florida. I don’t have a good answer for that. He seems to be better here. I don’t know if it’s our course or our type of grass.”
Theregoesjojo is being reunited with the meet’s leading rider, Kazushi Kimura, who rode him to victory in two legs of the 2020 Woodbine Turf Endurance Series.
“He’s gotten lucky with the horse, so we put him back on,” DePaulo said. “The horse is in good order.”
Malibu Mambo is competing beyond 1 1/8 miles for the first time off a stalking second at that distance in a second-level allowance won by Primo Touch, who went on to finish a distant third as a longshot in the International.
Malibu Mambo is winless in eight starts since October of last year, when he wired first-level allowance types on the Tapeta. Rafael Hernandez will ride him again for trainer Mike Doyle.
Sir Sahib is moving up off a dull race and a $40,000 claim by trainer Denyse McClachrie, who’s won at a 24 percent clip off the claim over the past five years, with a return on investment of $2.06. Like Malibu Mambo, he’s only found the winner’s circle twice.
Rogue Affair prevailed in both of his starts at the meet, against non-winners of two opposition on the Tapeta and in a 1 1/4-mile allowance on the grass.
Rounding out the field are Peace Seeker, Native Prince, Woodbridge, and Prideofdistinction.