Saffie Joseph Jr. | Horse Racing Free Tips

Collaborate Back To One Turn After Ambitious Try In Florida Derby

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. knew he was taking a big gamble when he entered lightly raced Collaborate in the Florida Derby (G1) off an impressive maiden win. And the result, a fifth-place finish, validated his initial concern that perhaps it was too much too soon.

“We were trying to get a little adventurous,” Joseph acknowledged of the one-shot, all-or-nothing attempt to reach the Kentucky Derby (G1). “Maybe it was a little quick off a maiden win. But I still believe in him. I haven't lost faith in him.”

With the Triple Crown no longer a consideration, Joseph has devised a new campaign for the 3-year-old, starting with Saturday's $75,000 The Roar at Gulfstream Park. Collaborate will face five rivals in the 6 1/2-furlong stakes, including two of his own stablemates.

“We're going back to one turn,” Joseph said. “I think that's going to be his strength.”

Collaborate, owned by Three Chimneys Farm and e Five Racing Thoroughbreds, created an instant buzz in late February when he broke his maiden by more than 12 lengths in a one-turn mile event. That performance was so electric that Collaborate was sent off as the 9-2 second choice in the Florida Derby.

But Collaborate was unable to duplicate his maiden win, faded late in the 1 1/8-mile stakes, and lost by nearly 15 lengths to Known Agenda.

Joseph said the colt's outside post position (9) was not to blame.

“If he had carried himself to the sixteenth pole and got beat by three or four lengths, I could have blamed the draw,” Joseph said. “But he just came up empty. He went from traveling good to empty. I just feel maybe the two turns got to him.”

Saturday's sprint stakes should be more to Collaborate's liking, Joseph said. And it could position him for major stakes this summer. Joseph has set the Allen Jerkens Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 28 as one potential target for the son of Into Mischief.

“You want to think ambitiously with horses,” Joseph said. “If this horse shows up, he'll be very tough to beat. He has to win Saturday to justify going on any further. He has to prove he can beat horses. But this is going to be a test.”

Collaborate, who will be ridden for the first time by Edwin Gonzalez, could face his stiffest challenge from two of his stablemates, Moonlite Strike and Lauda Speed. Sonata Stable's Moonlite Strike ran third in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) while Stefania Farms' Lauda Speed finished third in the six-furlong Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream on March 6. Joseph said he fully intends to race all three horses in The Roar.

“All three are going to run,” Joseph said. “This race was the target for all three. But we've got to beat the other three horses, too.”

The rest of the field includes Penny Lopez's Oh Steve, fresh off a maiden win, Arindel Stable's Gatsby, which will be seeking his first stakes win, and Just for Fun Stable's Warrior's Pride, who is exiting a win in the Texas Glitter Stakes at five furlongs on the turf.

Of his three horses, Joseph said “I think Collaborate has shown the most ability of all of them. But the others have all proven themselves and have more experience.”

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Sign Of Things To Come? Mischevious Alex Leads Saffie Joseph Triple In New York

Florida-based trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. will fill as many as 12 stalls at Belmont Park at the upcoming 48-day spring/summer meet in Elmont, N.Y., that runs from April 22 through July 11.

On Saturday, assistant trainer Sabine Langvad led three starters to the Big A paddock and had had her picture taken on each occasion thanks to wins with Mischevious Alex in the Grade 1, $300,000 Carter Handicap; Drain the Clock in the Grade 3, $200,000 Bay Shore; and Michael's Bad Boy in a state-bred maiden claimer.

Langvad said the results made working through recently crisp Nassau County mornings worthwhile.

“It was very cold here on Friday and I was like, 'Oh, this is rough.' But I can take a few frozen fingers for three wins,” said Langvad with a laugh.

Cash is King and LC Racing's Mischevious Alex earned a 109 Beyer for a dominant 5 1/2-length score in the seven-furlong Grade 1 Carter.

The 4-year-old Into Mischief colt, who captured the Grade 3 Gotham here last year, was much the best over multiple Grade 1-winner Mind Control. Irad Ortiz, Jr., who won six races on the card and guided all three winners Saturday for Joseph, Jr., has now piloted the colt to three successive wins, including a score in the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint in February.

“Irad gave him a perfect trip. He showed his true class at the quarter pole when he gave a strong kick and went away from everybody,” said Langvad. “I thought he was super impressive and showed that he's a Grade 1 horse.”

Mischevious Alex could target the Grade 1, $1 million Metropolitan on June 5 at Belmont Park with connections indicating Saturday that a pair of Grade 1 sprints at Saratoga – the Vanderbilt and Forego – are very much in play.

Slam Dunk Racing, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables and Michael Nentwig's Drain the Clock turned back in distance and earned an 86 Beyer for his 1 3/4-length frontrunning score in the seven-furlong Grade 3 Bay Shore.

The Maclean's Music chestnut was a little fractious in the gate but was able to dictate terms for the wrapped up win. A record of five wins from seven starts includes scores in the six-furlong Limehouse and seven-furlong Grade 3 Swale at Gulfstream. He entered the Wood from a pacesetting second in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream.

“He's still maturing. It's his first time in a new place and it wasn't terrible. He still broke well and I think with experience he will get better,” said Langvad. “He did well in the Fountain of Youth running second behind Greatest Honour. If they wanted to, they could have pushed him to go that distance but it seems his specialty is going seven eighths and especially one turn. Their decision was to focus on what seems to be his strength. He's shown he belongs in graded races. Hopefully, some big tasks ahead for him.”

A NYRA Grade 1 could be in order for Drain the Clock, as Joseph, Jr. said Saturday the $400,000 Woody Stephens on June 5 at Belmont Park and the $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial on August 28 at Saratoga are long term goals for the talented colt.

Lawrence Goichman's homebred Michael's Bad Boy graduated in his eighth start, drawing clear by 3 1/2-lengths in a state-bred 1 1/16-mile turf event with Ortiz, Jr. in the irons.

Langvad said all three horses were in good order on Sunday morning.

“Everyone looks great and ate up all their food,” said Langvad. “I'm super happy with how they came back and they took to travelling really well. Shipping back and forth from Aqueduct didn't seem to bother them at all.”

Mischevious Alex and Drain the Clock are scheduled to ship back to Joseph, Jr. in Florida on Monday, while the New York-bred Michael's Bad Boy will remain at Belmont.

Queen Nekia, last out winner of the Grade 3 Royal Delta on February 20 at Gulfstream, is slated to arrive in New York on Wednesday for a start in Saturday's $100,000 Top Flight Invitational.

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Diaz Makes Winning Return To Gulfstream Park; Rainbow 6 Jackpot Has $400,000 Guarantee On Sunday

Juan Carlos Diaz Jr., the son of a Puerto Rican legend, made a return to the Gulfstream Park winner's circle Saturday, more than two years after a brief stopover on his way to Southern California during his apprentice year.

The 20-year-old son of Juan Carlos Diaz rode Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Uncork the Bottle ($15.60) to a deep-closing victory in Race 3 aboard his second mount since his return to Gulfstream for the Spring/Summer Meet. Diaz rode Joseph-trained Braver Than We Are for a victory on March 10, 2019, during a 13-race stint at Gulfstream before riding out his apprenticeship in Southern California.

“I thank Saffie Joseph Jr. He has always supported me,” said Diaz of the Gulfstream Park-based trainer who notched stakes victories Saturday at Aqueduct with Mischevious Alex in Carter (G1) and Drain the Clock in the Bay Shore (G3).

Diaz rode a majority of his 79 career victories during his apprenticeship in Southern California before returning to Puerto Rico for the past few months to ride alongside his father, who has ridden 5,298 winners.

“I liked California. I did good there, but with COVID-19, I went home and rode there for two months. Now, I'm here,” Diaz said. “My father has helped me a lot. He told me to go to Miami.”

Romero Maragh, who notched his first career win at Gulfstream March 29, 2018, before eventually making his way to New York, also got reacquainted with the Gulfstream winner's circle Saturday on his second day of action during the Sprint/Summer Meet. Maragh guided Cuy ($10.20) to victory in Race 1.

Sunday's Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed at $400,000
The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $400,000 for Sunday's program at Gulfstream Park.

The popular multi-race wager went unsolved Saturday for the fourth racing day in a row since last Saturday's mandatory payout. Tickets with all six winners were each worth $29,537.72.

The jackpot pool is only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day's pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

The Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 5-10 on the Easter Sunday program that will get underway at 1 p.m.

There will also be a Super Hi-5 carryover into the first race Sunday of $2,471.10.

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Welcome Back: Irad Ortiz Jr. Rides Six Winners On Wood Memorial Card

Fresh off earning a record-setting title as leading rider at Gulfstream Park this winter, jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. returned to New York in style, notching six wins on Saturday's 11-race Wood Memorial program at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park.

Ortiz, Jr., 28, flourished in stakes action, piloting Grade 3, $200,000 Bay Shore-winner Drain the Clock [$2.70] and Grade 3, $250,000 Gazelle-winner Search Results, [$2.80] as well as Mischevious Alex [$3.70], who won the Grade 1, $300,000 Carter Handicap.

Ortiz, Jr. also made trips to the Big A winner's circle aboard Great Workout [Race 3, $3.60], Flighty Lady [Race 7, $3.40], and Michael's Bad Boy [Race 11, $3.90].

The six-win day doubled Ortiz, Jr.'s victories [12] through the first three days of the 11-day Aqueduct spring meet.

“It's been great. I keep getting a lot of support from my people,” Ortiz, Jr. “It feels great to be back. I got four winners on Thursday, two yesterday and six more today. I'm very thankful for all the support.”

Three of the six wins were for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr., who sent out Drain the Clock, Mischevious Alex and Michael's Bad Boy.

“He's a great trainer. He does a good job with his horses,” Ortiz, Jr. said. “He's been getting some better horses and having the chance to train them.”

Ortiz, Jr. tops the Big A spring meet jockey standings with 12 wins, six clear of his brother, Jose Ortiz.

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