BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Beth’s Dream and Poiema, both known for their quickness, will lead a quartet of Florida-breds among the seven fillies and mares entered to run one mile in Saturday’s $75,000 Mo’ Green overnight handicap at Gulfstream Park.
The 6-year-old Beth’s Dream has been a mile specialist throughout her career having won five of six starts with one third at the distance. She has also relished Gulfstream Park where she is five for seven lifetime but won her only career stakes going a mile at Laurel Park, winning the $100,000 Heavenly Cause on April 15 of last year by two lengths.
Trained by Victor Barboza Jr. for breeders Virginia and James E. Gamble, Beth’s Dream will make her second start of the year after winning an upper condition, $62,500 optional claiming going a mile at Gulfstream on March 17.
By Jess’s Dream out of Gator Brew, by Milwaukee Brew, Beth’s Dream has won six of 13 career starts with two seconds and two thirds while earning $298,617.
Beth’s Dream will be ridden by Paco Lopez from post two.
Poiema returns to the barn of owner and trainer Joseph Catanese III after racing for trainer Kathleen O’Connell in three starts at Tampa Bay Downs. She was second twice this winter and spring at Tampa Bay including when beaten three-quarters of a length by fellow Florida-bred Dreaming of Snow in a $100,000 optional claiming going seven furlongs on Dec. 9. She was also second to Sterling Silver in a $50,000 overnight handicap going seven furlongs there in her last race on March 9.
Poiema is by Pleasant Acres Stallions’ Neolithic out of Coco’s Legacy, by Mass Media and was bred by Cheryl Janine McGuire and James Patrick McGuire. She has won five with seven seconds and seven thirds in 20 career starts and has $264,153 in earnings.
She is a two-time graduate of Ocala Breeders’ Sales having first sold for $9,000 to Servando Espinoza at the 2020 October Yearling Sale where she was consigned by Summerfield. She was then purchased by Larry Bates for $14,000 out of the Little Farm Equine consignment at the OBS June Sale the following year.
Poiema will be ridden by Edgar Perez and they will depart the outside post seven.
Rounding out the field for the Mo’ Green are Libban and jockey Edgard Zayas, Aubundancia with Emisael Jaramillo aboard, Joe Bravo rides Florida-bred Dream Concert, Yuki (Chi) will have rider Fernando Jara and Leonel Reyes has the mount on Florida-bred stakes-winner Atomically, who makes her first start of 2024.
