Dojea Gizmo, the orphaned colt who rose up this year to become an Indiana Sires Stakes winner, just accomplished another goal. The three-year-old son of Tellitlikeitis scored a near gate to wire win in 1:51.0 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Friday, Nov. 1 to earn a new career best time.
Dojea Gizmo, shown earlier this year winning at Harrah’s Hoosier Park with former driver-trainer Dan Shetler, recorded a new career best time of 1:51.0 Friday, Nov. 13. Photo by Dean Gillette
A few days after Dojea Gizmo was born, his dam, Postmark, the Mark Johnathan Indiana sired mare who was an Indiana Sires Stakes champ and winner of more than $260,000, passed away, leaving the young foal as an orphan at Dojea Stables. Extra work went into getting him healthy and ready for training and he joined the Dan Shetler barn for the next chapter in his life.
Following a lightly raced season at two with no wins, Dojea Gizmo found his winning stride earlier this year for Shetler, winning five races, including Indiana Sires Stakes action. He finished third in the Indiana Sires Stakes Super Final for Shetler one month ago, pacing his mile in 1:50.0. Shetler concentrates on two and three-year-olds and as a result, the gelding was recently sold to trainer Ron Burke.
In his first start for Burke Friday, Dojea Gizmo made a move to the front down the backstretch and held strong to the wire for the win with Sam Widger in the bike. Caviart Stetson and Trace Tetrick finished one and three-quarter lengths back in second followed by McThriller and Peter Wrenn for third.
Dojea Gizmo is now owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Phillip Collura. He now has in excess of $100,000 in career earnings.