BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Making her second start for owner and trainer Joseph Catanese III, Florida-bred Poiema ran away from her rivals early and provided a popular victory in the $60,000 Stormy Embrace overnight handicap Sunday at Gulfstream Park. Sent to the post as the 1-2 favorite, the 4-year-old daughter of Pleasant Acres Stallions’ Neolithic dominated six other fillies and mares going six-and-a-half furlongs with a five-and-a-half-length victory.

Ridden by Edgar Perez from post five, Poiema was a half-length in front of She’s Outta Here in second through the first quarter mile in :23.19 before stretching her lead to three lengths around the far turn while finishing the half-mile in :46.30. She was five lengths in front in deep stretch before finishing in 1:18.90 on the fast main track.

She’s Outta Here kept second by a half-length in front of Florida-bred Sophia’s Storm in third. Florida-bred Great Analogy, Ginger Sparkle, Florida-bred Don’t Get Khozy and Sheza Happy Girl completed the order of finish.

Poiema paid $3 to win.

In her first start for Catanese on Aug. 18 at Gulfstream, Poiema finished second to Battle Cry after leading most of the way in a second level, $62,500 optional claiming going a mile over a sloppy track. Earlier this year, Poiema was second to Florida-bred Bluefield in the $60,000 Musical Romance overnight handicap going seven furlongs at Gulfstream in April.

The victory in the Stormy Embrace improved her lifetime record to five wins, five seconds and two thirds in 22 starts and boosted her earnings to $241,685.

Out of the Florida-bred mare Coco’s Legacy, by Mass Media, Poiema twice sold at Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company. Summerfield consigned her to the 2020 OBS October Yearling Sale where Servando Espinoza took her for $9,000. Then Little Farm Equine consignment sold her for $14,000 to Larry Bates at the 2021 OBS June Sale.

Poiema was bred by Cheryl Janine McGuire and James Patrick McQuire of St. Augustine, Fla.