Saffie Joseph Jr. | Horse Racing Free Tips

Knicks Ready to Go in Met Mile

Korea Racing Authority's Knicks Go (Paynter) will try to return to his winning ways Saturday in Belmont's GI Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan H., a 'Win and You're In' event for the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar this fall. Riding a four-race unbeaten streak, including the GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Mile in November and the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Jan. 23, the grey finished fourth most recently behind Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) in the Feb. 20 GI Saudi Cup.

“We had to contend with a trip to the Middle East and back,” said Brad Cox. “He seemed to recover really well. We were pointing him for the race at Lone Star in the [GIII] Sexton Mile [May 31], but with the defection of Charlatan, it gave us enough confidence to put our name in the hat for the Met Mile. I think this will be a good experience for the horse. He breezed extremely well Sunday [May 30] [Churchill Downs, 5f, :59.80] and had a huge gallop out. I feel like we're in a good spot with him and going the right way.”

Joel Rosario retains the mount from the outermost post 6.

Cash is King and LC Racing's Mischevious Alex (Into Mischief), undefeated in three starts this term, exits an impressive 5 1/2-length score in the seven-furlong GI Carter H. at the Big A Apr. 3.

Prior to that, the Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee annexed a Gulfstream optional claimer Jan. 10 before adding a win in the GIII Gulfstream Park Sprint S. Feb. 13. During his sophomore season, he also won the GIII Swale S. and GIII Gotham S. while under the tutelage of trainer John Servis.

“In my opinion, he's the leader of the sprint division, but we run a mile this time, so it's going to be a big test,” said Joseph, Jr. “This is the time to try it and if he's able to accomplish it, it will be a great thing for his resume as a stallion.”

In regards to the distance, Joseph Jr. added, “I'm cautiously optimistic. He's lethal at six or seven furlongs because he can make the lead or sit if he needs to. At a mile, I feel it's within his reach and he's capable of it, so we'll give it a try. The way he won last time gives you optimism, but he has to go over and do it to make me a believer.”

Also riding a winning skein heading into Saturday's test, Silver State (Hard Spun) gets a class test while trying top-tier company for the first time. After closing out 2020 with a pair of seven-eighth victories in Kentucky, he kicked off 2021 with a narrow score in Oaklawn's Fifth Season S. Jan. 23 before adding the Mar. 13 Essex H. Stretched to nine panels for his latest in the Apr. 17 GII Oaklawn H., the 4-year-old came home a narrow winner Fearless (Ghostzapper). Regular pilot Ricardo Santana Jr. rejoins the Steve Asmussen trainee Saturday.

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Brown Hopes To Continue Intercontinental Dominance With Regal Glory, Publication

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown knows how to go the distance in the Grade 3, $200,000 Intercontinental, having saddled three of its seven winners, including the first four home last year. On Thursday at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., he returns with a potent pair in the seven-furlong turf test for fillies and mares, including last year's runner-up, Regal Glory, and an intriguing upstart, Publication.

The eighth running of the Intercontinental is one of three stakes on Thursday's nine-race card on Opening Day of the three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, which concludes Saturday with a loaded nine-race card featuring eight Grade 1s, headlined by the 153rd Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets that concludes the Triple Crown series.

Peter Brant's Regal Glory parlayed last year's Intercontinental to a fourth-place finish in the G1 Longines Just a Game before capping her season with a gritty victory in the G3 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Stakes—both over one mile. Shortening to seven panels on the Widener course may be a welcome change for the 5-year-old chestnut daughter of Animal Kingdom, as she is 2-for-3 in sprints, with her lone loss being last year's Intercontinental.

Additionally, the likelihood of some give in the ground on Thursday will be advantageous, as six of her seven wins [from 12 starts] were over wet turf, including Aqueduct's Plenty of Grace on April 11.

“Regal Glory is doing super and she knows this race well,” Brown said. “With the forecast the way it is, and as you can see in her past performances, she handles soft ground very well. It could end up working out for her.”

Juddmonte's Publication is a lightly raced blueblood by Tapit out of Filimbi, a G2-winning daughter of Kentucky Oaks winner Flute who placed in four G1 races, including the Just a Game. The Intercontinental will be the 4-year-old's fourth career start, but first without a layoff, as she was an impressive allowance winner on April 24 at Aqueduct. Last July, she broke her maiden over this course and distance.

“We've thought a lot of Publication since the beginning,” Brown said. “Unfortunately, she's had a lot of interruptions in her development, but she's doing really well right now. She's a fiery filly with a lot of Tapit in her in a good way and is very forward in her training.

“She's all racehorse and every time she's there for you in her work,” he added. “I've been really looking forward to getting her into stakes races, but unfortunately because of some minor setbacks, I haven't been able to do it. This is the perfect opportunity at this distance. I don't know about the ground and don't yet have a feel for that with her. It looks like it's going to have some moisture and there's more rain in the forecast. She's out of a wonderful family and I've had a couple out of Filimbi that I like, including a 3-year-old colt.”

Regal Glory drew post 8 and will be ridden by Jose Ortiz, while Publication will have the services of Hall of Famer Javier Castellano from the rail.

Shipping in for the capable Florida-based barn of Saffie Joseph Jr. is Joseph M. Imbesi's Sweet Bye and Bye. The 6-year-old daughter of Sky Mesa is seeking her ninth career victory and exiting a strong win in Gulfstream Park's listed Sand Springs on March 27. An allowance winner over this course when in the care of Tony Dutrow last August, she makes her third start for Joseph and will break from post 2 under Irad Ortiz, Jr.

“She's a grand mare,” Joseph said. “She came to us with a proven resume. She ran two races for us already. Her first race she ran second with a credible effort and the second race [Sand Springs] she won well. I thought she improved a bit last out and ran close to her top numbers that day. I feel like she's sitting on a good race.

“We were in-between two minds of going to the Intercontinental or the Just a Game, but I think we're going into the Intercontinental as the first or second choice,” Joseph continued. “It would be a really nice race to win.”

Horseshoe Racing's Michelle Lovell-trained Change of Control, winner of Keeneland's Listed Giant's Causeway on April 10 and a strong runner-up 19 days later in Churchill Downs' Unbridled Sidney Stakes, must also be respected when she breaks from post 4 under Colby Hernandez.

Mike Maker-trained stakes winner I'llhandalthecash [post 7, Luis Saez] and local stakes alumni Madeleine Must [post 5, Joel Rosario] and Piedi Bianchi [post 6, Manny Franco] have also been entered. Last-out dirt allowance winners Subsidiary and Aunt Kat have been entered for the main-track-only.

The Intercontinental, slated as Race 6, is one of two graded stakes—along with the G3, $200,000 Wonder Again on Thursday's nine-race card. First post is 3:05 p.m. on the card that also features the $150,000 Astoria, a 5 1/2-furlong sprint for juvenile fillies on Big Sandy.

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Mischevious Alex, Drain The Clock Drill For Belmont Stakes Racing Festival Engagements

Trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. breezed Mischevious Alex and Drain the Clock Sunday at Florida's Gulfstream Park in preparation for starts at the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival this coming week at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Cash is King and LC Racing's Mischevious Alex worked a half-mile in company in 48.72 seconds on the fast main track in his final breeze for Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan Handicap.

Slam Dunk Racing, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables and Michael Nentwig's Drain the Clock also worked a half-mile in company in 48.68.

Joseph said the breeze was easier by design for both after working the two talented colts head-and-head on May 23 through five furlongs in a bullet 1:00.81 on the Gulfstream main track.

“We didn't want either of them to overdo anything so we paired them with lesser workmates today,” said Joseph. “The last time they worked together they went head and head the whole way.”

Joseph said Mischevious Alex is coming into the Met Mile, which offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, in top form following his impressive score in the G1 Carter Handicap on April 3 at the Big A that garnered a career-best 109 Beyer.

“They caught him in 48 and change and he got the last quarter in 23 and 1, so it went well,” said Joseph. “He's in good form. We're hoping he can run a race as good as last time. If he does, I think we're going over there with a good chance.”

Drain the Clock, who has won 5-of-7 starts, is targeting the G1, $400,000 Woody Stephens presented by Nassau Country Industrial Development Agency, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomores.

Joseph said the Maclean's Music chestnut, who matched a career-best 86 Beyer last out winning the Grade 3 Bay Shore on April 3 at the Big A, is in good order.

“He's plenty fit,” said Joseph. “He looked good working and he is coming into the race in good form at a distance that he's been successful. He'll have to run his career best, but we feel like he's sitting on his career best.”

Joseph will also be represented at the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival by Sweet Bye and Bye in Thursday's G3, $200,000 Intercontinental, a seven-furlong Widener turf sprint for older fillies and mares; and by Queen Nekia in the G1, $500,000 Ogden Phipps at 1 1/16-miles on Big Sandy for older fillies and mares which offers a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” berth to the Distaff.

Joseph said the colts will fly to New York on Wednesday, while the mares will begin their journey by van later today.

The Florida-based conditioner, who has stalls at Belmont for the first time, has three wins and three thirds from nine starts at the Belmont spring/summer meet. He praised assistant trainer Sabine Langvad for the strong early showing.

“Our horses have been in good form and running good. Even the ones that didn't win have performed credibly,” said Joseph, Jr. “Sabine works hard and has a lot of passion for what she does.”

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Wind Of Change Gives J.C. Diaz Jr. First Stateside Stakes Win In Mr. Prospector

Ever since Saffie Joseph Jr. took over the training for Wind of Change two starts ago he was convinced the 6-year-old was better sprinting six furlongs than going longer, as the horse had been doing.

Saturday's $100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., validated that belief.

Wind of Change, with jockey J. C. Diaz Jr. making his Monmouth Park debut, splashed to an easy 6¼-length victory in the 16th running of the Mr. Prospector Stakes, covering the six furlongs over a sloppy track in a sharp 1:09.60.

It marked the first stakes victory in the United States for Wind of Change, who started his career in Brazil.

“It looked like he made the lead within a few jumps and once he made the lead I wasn't worried because he's not the fastest horse from the gate,” said Joseph. “So I felt pretty comfortable once he made the lead. By the quarter pole he had a little pressure but he's the kind of horse that is going to stay the six furlongs strongly. I felt he would finish strongly and he did.”

A winner of eight of 21 career starts, Wind of Change has seven wins and two seconds in 10 starts over wet tracks – numbers that gave Diaz some pre-race confidence. The 20-year-old native of Puerto Rico is the son of legendary Puerto Rican jockey Juan C. Diaz, who has captured the past 20 riding titles at Camarero Racetrack.

“I wasn't too worried about the sloppy track because I know this horse is good in the slop,” Diaz said. “That gives you confidence when you see that form. He (Joseph) told me the horse has some early speed but he isn't always quick away from the gate. But he got into stride easily and made the lead on his own. He stayed strong the whole race.”

Sent off at 2-1 in the field of six, Wind of Change had few anxious moments, tripping the timer at :22.34 for the opening quarter and :45.14 to the half. Jersey-bred Golden Brown rallied for second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Always Sunshine.

Joseph tried Wind of Change at six furlongs for his first start in his care, with the second-place finish in an optional $62,000 claimer at Gulfstream Park on April 24 serving as more proof that the distance was more the horse's strength. He was beaten just three-quarters of a length that day – and had been 0-for-4 at six furlongs until this victory.

The off going proved to be an added advantage for a horse that relishes a wet track.

“You always want a fast track but if a horse can handle an off track the way this one does you don't worry about it as much,” said Joseph, who is stabled at Monmouth Park for the first time. “I'm just thankful the horse showed up. He has been training like a really good horse. He's a deserving stakes winner.

“We're off to a good start at Monmouth. Fingers crossed it will continue.”

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