Tonalist's Shape starts for new barn in allowance co-feature

A pair of first-level allowance races for 2-year-olds share the spotlight at Gulfstream Park West Sunday. The 6 1/2-furlong dashes each carry a $75,000 claiming option but are very different to handicap.

It is hard to take a firm stand on any of the 10 colts and geldings entered in race 7 on the eight-race card, which begins at 1 p.m. Eastern.

Tonalist’s Shape figures to be a short price in the fillies division, which goes as race 6

Tonalist’s Shape was very impressive winning her debut on Sept. 28 at Gulfstream Park for trainer Juan Avila. She was well back early in the 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race, made her presence known from along the rail on the stretch turn, and then finished full of run to win going away.

She was impressive enough that Slam Dunk Racing, Doug Branham, and Legacy Racing Inc. purchased her and transferred her to trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

“It took a while for the deal to get done, so I don’t know a lot about her,” said Joseph. “She came to us in good shape, so we just gave her one easy maintenance work. We just want her to get through this and then make a plan for hopefully bigger and better things for her. Her pedigree says she wants to go longer.”

The Kentucky-bred daughter of Tonalist is the first foal out of Hitechnoweenie, a route stakes winner on dirt who also won going long on turf.

Tonalist’s Shape will break from post 2 with Edgard Zayas aboard.

The Victor Barboza Jr. trainee Mandamus looks like the main threat. A Florida-bred daughter of Constitution, Mandamus finished second going 4 1/2 furlongs in her debut on July 7 at Gulfstream, and rallied to win her second start in a five-furlong maiden special weight race on Aug. 24.

One Hot Drama, the only two-time winner in the field, is coming off a victory in a $35,000 starter with a $35,000 claiming option at Gulfstream on Sept. 27. Similar to her win in a $16,000 maiden claimer in her previous start, she led from start to finish.

One Hot Drama is trained by David Brownlee.

◗ King Theo, trained by Carlo Vaccarezza, rates a look in the wide-open colts and geldings division.

King Theo showed some promise when he finished fourth in a five-furlong maiden special race on June 9 and then romped in the slop going seven furlongs in his second start on Aug. 22.

The Kentucky-bred son of More Than Ready will appreciate the substantial class relief following his eighth-place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keenland on Oct. 5.

He will break from post 8 with Albin Jimenez riding.

The Stanley Gold-trained Poe looked good winning a six-furlong maiden special race on Aug. 31 and should appreciate the move back to a sprint after finishing fourth in the $400,000 In Reality on Sept. 28. He was within striking range at the six-furlong mark but came up empty late in the 1 1/16-mile race.