Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. boasts a stellar 3-0-2 record from seven graded stakes starts at Aqueduct, including wins by Mischevious Alex in the 2021 Carter Handicap (G1), Drain the Clock in the 2021 Bay Shore (G3), and Officiating in last year's Tom Fool Handicap (G3).
He will look to add to his local success when he sends out Vegso Racing Stable's Kentucky homebred Lord Miles in the $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2) on April 8. The Barbados native could also send Run Cory Run or Knox for the Kentucky Derby (G1) prep which offers qualifying points on a 100-40-30-20-10 scale to the top five finishers.
Joseph has started three horses in the Wood, all of them longshots, finishing fourth in 2019 with Math Wizard [64-1], while Skippylongstocking [17-1] and A.P.'s Secret [49-1] ran third and fourth, respectively, in last year's edition that featured a photo finish between two eventual classic winners in the victorious Mo Donegal, the Belmont (G1) winner, and Early Voting, Preakness, the Preakness (G1) victor.
Joseph said he has no fear of being a longshot in sophomore stakes.
“With 3-year-olds, you never know when they're going to step up,” Joseph said. “The Wood has been a productive race for us. We haven't won it, but those horses ran well and that gave us confidence to try different races with them off of that.”
Lord Miles, by Curlin and out of the Majestic Warrior mare Lady Esme, made his first three starts at Gulfstream Park. He graduated on debut in a six-furlong sprint in November before a rallying third in the one-mile Mucho Macho Man in which he was defeated just three-quarters of a length.
“He trained very good for his debut, but he was very green that day. He broke good and then dropped back and that's been a problem we've had with him. But he still won that day going away,” Joseph said. “In the Mucho Macho Man, at an extended distance, he should have been able to sit more handy, but it was a similar thing. He broke good and dropped back – at the quarter pole he was last and then he came running and just got beat.”
Joseph attempted to address the lack-of-focus issue by adding blinkers to Lord Miles' repertoire for the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull (G3) in February, but the bay colt broke poorly and never factored. Last out, with blinkers off in the 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay Derby (G3) on March 11, Lord Miles again posted an in-and-out performance, when sitting as close as fourth early on before dropping back to eighth and eventually finishing fifth.
“He put on blinkers in the Holy Bull and I was very disappointed. He didn't run up to par that day,” Joseph, Jr. said. “He came back in the Tampa Bay Derby and ran sneaky good again, but he's inconsistent in his races and how he travels. At the quarter-pole last time, it looked like he was completely done and then he came back on and ran fifth.”
Joseph said he is hopeful stretching out to nine furlongs will benefit Lord Miles.
“I think the distance will be good for him, but we just need to teach him to be more handy throughout the races,” Joseph said. “It just seems like he's always struggling on-and-off the bridle. We're hoping he can put it together. In the morning, he's very handy, it's just in his races he's been doing this. If he can run a complete race, he has the ability.”
Gentry Farms' Run Cory Run, by Accelerate, was purchased for $32,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale. He graduated at second asking in January at Tampa Bay Downs traveling one mile and 40 yards to best next-out winner Summer Cause.
The Kentucky-bred Run Cory Run finished fourth last out in a nine-furlong optional-claiming tilt won by likely Wood Memorial rival Classic Catch, who is trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher.
“He broke his maiden well at Tampa and is coming out of a decent allowance race,” Joseph said. “He's a horse that's progressive and the distance shouldn't be a problem, so it would be a chance to see where we're at.”
Run Cory Run is out of the Indian Charlie mare Frere Pilgrim, who is a half sister to graded stakes winner Tamarind Hall.
Arindel's Florida-homebred Knox, by Brethren, boasts a record of 1-1-1 from six starts. He graduated at first asking in June at Gulfstream and most recently closed to finish second in a seven-furlong optional-claimer at the Florida oval.
“He always gives himself a lot to do. We've been trying to get him into longer races here and the races just won't go,” Joseph said. “He ran good here the other day and the distance will be no problem with him.”
Out of the stakes-winning Afleet Alex mare Alexandra Rylee, Knox's full brother, Clapton, captured the one-mile Gil Campbell Memorial Handicap last year at Gulfstream.
The post ‘You Never Know When They’re Going To Step Up’: Joseph Targets Wood Memorial Again With Likely Longshots appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
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