Joevia turned in a professional debut while showing a yearning for going longer in capturing the $36,000 Maiden Special Weight feature at Monmouth Park on Sunday, getting the better of five other first-time 2-year-old starters. 

Immediately following Joevia’s 1¾-length victory over Mooji Moo Jr. in the five-furlong sprint, trainer Gregg Sacco said the Kentucky-bred son of Shanghai Bobby-Peace Process would be pointed to the Sept. 1 Sapling Stakes at Monmouth. 

The $75,000 Sapling, the track’s top race for 2-year-olds, is at a mile. 

“He’s a nice colt who has been doing everything right,” said Sacco. “Today was gravy because we really feel he’s a two-turn horse. He has shown us that in his works and in this race. He has some gas but he’s really a two-turn horse.” 

Sacco, a long-time Monmouth Park-based conditioner, has never won the Sapling, saying that “I really want to win it, too.” 

Joevia, the 2-1 second choice of the crowd of 10,148, raced in mid-pack at the outset before jockey Chris DeCarlo hustled the colt to take aim at front-running Mooji Moor Jr. entering the turn. Mooji Moo Jr. dug in gamely until the one-eighth pole before Joevia kicked in to win going away. 

It was another 2½ lengths back to Bronzed in third place. 

Time for the five furlongs over a track listed as sloppy was :59.07.