Tag: Saffie Joseph

Jackie’s Warrior Faces Drain The Clock In Woody Stephens

Undefeated one-turn titans Jackie's Warrior and Drain the Clock will square off in Saturday's 37th running of the Grade 1, $400,000 Woody Stephens presented by Nassau County Industrial Development Agency.

The historic seven-furlong sprint for sophomores is named in honor of the late Hall of Fame trainer, whose biggest claim to fame was capturing an unprecedented five straight wins in the Belmont Stakes with Conquistador Cielo [1982], Caveat [1983], Swale [1984], Crème Fraiche [1985] and Danzig Connection [1986].

Trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr., Drain the Clock arrives at his first Grade 1 test off an effortless triumph in the Grade 3 Bay Shore on April 3 at Aqueduct, where he crossed the wire in hand under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr.

“He'll have to run his career best, but we feel like he's sitting on his career best,” Joseph, Jr. said.

Two open-length victories at Gulfstream Park, when taking the six-furlong Limehouse on January 2 and the Grade 3 Swale at seven furlongs four weeks later, prompted Joseph, Jr. to try a two turn Kentucky Derby-qualifier with the son of Maclean's Music in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, where he finished a good second to Greatest Honour.

“I feel he's a better one-turn horse. Can he win two turns? Yes, against the right company,” Joseph, Jr. said. “But for him to achieve his full potential, one turn is his best distance. He's unbeaten at one turn. It's coming up a small field, but I think any one of them could win it. He'll have to run his best, but he's won most of his one-turn races quite handily and we never really let him out fully.”

Although Drain the Clock has displayed brilliance when commanding from start to finish, he has also won from just off the pace, exhibiting tactical speed in his Limehouse and Swale victories.

“He doesn't need to have the lead,” Joseph Jr. said. “He can sit handy. He sat second in the Swale. I wouldn't want him too far off of it, but he doesn't need the lead.”

Drain the Clock is owned by Slam Dunk Racing, Wonder Stables, Madaket Stables and Michael Nentwig. He breaks from post 2 under Ortiz, Jr.

J. Kirk and Judy Robison's Jackie's Warrior boasts an unbeaten 5-for-5 record around one turn and returns to Belmont, where he ran a career best 100 Beyer Speed Figure in the Grade 1 Champagne going a one-turn mile in October.

Having won five of seven lifetime starts, Jackie's Warrior boasts earnings of $868,964 – the highest bankroll in the field.

Also a son of Maclean's Music, Jackie's Warrior was fourth as the beaten favorite in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keenland before running a distant third in the Grade 3 Southwest at Oaklawn Park in February. He made a triumphant return to one turn against a contentious field in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs.

Jackie's Warrior will attempt to give Hall of Fame conditioner Steve Asmussen his fourth Woody Stephens win, having previously sent out Posse [2003], J Be K [2008] and Justin Phillip [2011].

Jockey Joel Rosario, who rode Jackie's Warrior in six of his seven lifetime starts, also attempts a fourth Woody Stephens victory from post 3.

Trainer Brad Cox cuts Caddo River back in distance off three starts on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Owned by John Ed Anthony's Shortleaf Stable, Caddo River never relinquished when commanding the pace in both of his lifetime wins. Following a superb third-out maiden victory by 9 ½ lengths at Churchill Downs, the son of Hard Spun parlayed such ways into stakes company when conquering the Smarty Jones by 10 ¼ lengths.

Following a fifth-place finish as the favorite in the Grade 2 Rebel on March 13, Caddo River ran a much improved second to Super Stock in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby in his most recent effort.

“We're hopeful that the cutback is the play here from the mile and an eighth,” Cox said. “He's been freshened a little bit. He's been working steady over the past month and hopefully, with a good trip, he can have a breakthrough performance and maybe pick off a Grade 1. I think the shortening up will be good for him.”

Cox expressed no regrets at taking a crack at the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

“It's nothing but a positive. He made it through it,” Cox said. “We just felt like it wasn't going to set up for us in the Kentucky Derby and he's not a horse who really wanted a mile and a quarter, so we're hoping that backing up to seven-eighths will be a positive for him.”

A Kentucky homebred, Caddo River is out of the stakes-winning Congrats mare Pangburn.

Jockey Florent Geroux will ride from post 6.

Invading from California is Dream Shake, who has placed in all three of his starts at graded stakes level for trainer Peter Eurton.

After an in-hand first out victory on February 7 at Santa Anita, the son of Twirling Candy finished a distant third to Life Is Good in the Grade 2 San Felipe on March 6 at the Arcadia oval. Following another third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby behind Grade 1 Belmont Stakes aspirant Rock Your World and Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit, Dream Shake cut back to one turn for the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs. He tracked right off Jackie's Warrior throughout the backstretch run, maintaining position in the stretch drive but was kept at bay finishing a head shy of victory.

Dream Shake is owned by Exline-Border Racing, SAF Racing, Stonestreet Stables and Richard Hausman.

Leaving from post 4, Dream Shake will be piloted by Flavien Prat.

Michael Shanley's homebred Nova Rags seeks a breakthrough win for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

The son of 2012 Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags has acquired graded stakes black type when finishing second in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs and the Grade 2 Peter Pan at Belmont Park.

Two starts after a successful debut in October when travelling six furlongs at Belmont Park, Nova Rags made his lone start at seven furlongs when capturing the Pasco at Tampa Bay Downs.

Jockey Junior Alvarado rides from post 1.

Completing the field is David Ingordo's Tulane Tryst who will try and let the good times roll into his graded stakes debut. The son of leading sire Into Mischief broke his maiden going six furlongs on March 20 at Fair Grounds, defeating next-out winners Mr Sippi and Koolhaus. He arrives off a runner-up finish against winners on May 1 at Churchill Downs.

Breaking from post 5, Tulane Tryst will be ridden by jockey Luis Saez.

The Woody Stephens will be carded as Race 3 on Saturday's 11-race program. First post is 11:35 a.m.

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Mischevious Alex Will Stretch Out Against Knicks Go In Met Mile

Cash is King and LC Racing's Mischevious Alex will look to build on his already impressive ledger in Saturday's stallion-making Grade 1, $1 million Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan Handicap, a one-turn mile for 3-year-olds and up on Belmont Stakes Day.

The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival runs from Thursday through Saturday, June 5, culminating with the 153rd running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets. The festival will encompass 17 total stakes, including eight Grade 1s on Belmont Stakes Day, capped by the “Test of the Champion” for 3-year-olds in the 1 1/2-mile final leg of the Triple Crown. First post on Belmont Stakes Day is 11:35 a.m. Eastern.

Trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. said Mischevious Alex, who garnered a career-best 109 Beyer Speed Figure last out for winning the Grade 1 Carter Handicap on April 3 at Aqueduct Racetrack, is a force to be reckoned with at sprint distances, but will need a top performance to have his picture taken in the Met Mile, which offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile in November at Del Mar.

“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.”

Last year, the 4-year-old Into Mischief colt captured the seven-furlong Grade 3 Swale at Gulfstream ahead of a prominent two-length win in the Grade 3 Gotham, travelling a one-turn mile at the Big A for former conditioner John Servis.

Joseph, Jr. said the Gotham result gives him confidence that Mischevious Alex is up to the task after starting his season 3-for-3 with six-furlong wins in an optional claimer and the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint at the Hallandale Beach oval ahead of the Carter coup.

“He's won a one-turn mile already. He won the Gotham before we had him,” said Joseph, Jr. “So, we know he can get the mile, the question will be if he can get the mile against top-class company.

“I'm cautiously optimistic,” continued Joseph, Jr. “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.”

Irad Ortiz, Jr., who leads the Belmont spring/summer meet with 34 wins, retains the mount from the inside post.

Korea Racing Authority's Knicks Go, trained by reigning Eclipse Award-winner Brad Cox, looms the one to beat as the 126 pound highweight with an impressive record of 19-6-3-1 with purse earnings in excess of $4.5 million.

The pacesetting 5-year-old son of Paynter enjoyed a perfect 3-for-3 campaign in 2020, culminating with a win in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile that registered a career-best 108 Beyer.

Bred in Maryland by Angie Moore, the striking grey horse matched his impressive figure in his seasonal debut with a 2 3/4-length score in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational in January at Gulfstream Park.
Last out, Knicks Go faded to fourth in the $20 million nine-furlong Saudi Cup on February 20 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.

Cox said he intended to enter the horse in the Grade 3 Sexton Mile held Monday at Lone Star, but called an audible with Knicks Go, who breezed a bullet five-eighths in 59.80 seconds on Sunday at Churchill Downs.

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

While his rival Mischevious Alex will be concerned about the stretch out, Cox said he has some concerns about the one-turn mile on Big Sandy.

“Outside of Saudi, I haven't really gone one turn with him, so it'll be interesting to see because it's a little bit of a question mark,” said Cox. “But he's won going five-eighths as a 2-year-old, so if the race sets up, I feel confident we can get a good trip and be effective.”

Joel Rosario retains the mount from the outermost post 6.

Dr Post, trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher for St. Elias Stable, hit the board in consecutive nine-furlong Grade 1s last summer when second to Tiz the Law in the Belmont Stakes and third in the Haskell won by Authentic by a nose over Ny Traffic at Monmouth Park.

A $400,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, Dr Post launched his 4-year-old campaign with a prominent score in the Grade 3 Westchester traveling a one-turn mile at Belmont on May 1 that garnered a career-best 103 Beyer.

Pletcher said the colt would appreciate a target after being closer to the pace than usual last out.

“It wasn't a very quickly run race. He wasn't any faster earlier on that usual,” said Pletcher of the Westchester score. “I think he would benefit from a contested pace and sit mid-pack. That's his preferred running style.”

Pletcher is a two-time Met Mile winner with Palace Malice [2014] and Quality Road [2010], the sire of Dr Post.

“He's always physically reminded us of Quality Road. Like a lot of good Quality Road progeny, he seems to be stamped by his sire,” said Pletcher. “He's a good-training horse and always has been very straightforward and professional. I like the way he ran off the layoff and hopefully he makes another move forward. I'm happy with him.”

Hall of Famer John Velazquez has the call aboard Dr Post from post 2.

Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing's Silver State, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, brings a five-race win streak into Saturday's test after making the grade last out in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap on April 17.

A $450,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, the 4-year-old Hard Spun colt is out of the stakes-winning Empire Maker mare Supreme. Silver State has blossomed at Oaklawn this campaign, winning the one-mile Fifth Season in January and the 1 1/16-mile Essex Handicap in March.

Asmussen and jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr., who teamed up to win the Met Mile back-to-back in 2018-19 with Bee Jersey and Mitole, will look for continued success when the improving bay exits post 3.

Allied Racing Stable and Spendthrift Farm's By My Standards is a four-time Grade 2-winner with nine-furlong scores in the 2019 Louisiana Derby, 2020 New Orleans Classic, and 2020 Oaklawn Handicap, as well as a victory in the 1 1/16-mile Alysheba in September at Churchill Downs.

A seven-time winner from 15 starts with purse earnings in excess of $2 million, By My Standards will look for his first Grade 1 score following a narrow nose win in his seasonal debut in the Oaklawn Mile on April 10.

Trained by Bret Calhoun, the Kentucky-bred son of Goldencents will exit post 5 under Gabriel Saez.

Calumet Farm homebred Lexitonian, a 5-year-old son of Speightstown trained by Jack Sisterson, will look to provide his owner their second Met Mile following Criminal Type, who won in 1990 under Jose Santos for Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas.

Lexitonian made the grade sprinting six furlongs in the 2019 Grade 3 Chick Lang at Pimlico. He tried his luck in a pair of Grade 1 events last year, rallying from last-of-eight to finish second, by a nose, to Collusion Illusion in the six-furlong Bing Crosby at Del Mar, which was followed by a more prominent fifth, defeated 2 1/2-lengths to Win Win Win in a sloppy renewal of the Forego at Saratoga.

“He's a funny sort of horse. We think we have him figured out and then he throws us a curveball,” said Sisterson. “The plan in the Bing Crosby wasn't to take back and make one run, they just went that quick up front. It was a brutal loss.”

Last month, Sisterson completed a personal NYRA Grade 1 triple when Channel Cat captured the Man o' War at Belmont, adding to top-flight wins by True Timber in the Cigar Mile Handicap in December at the Big A and Vexatious' upset win in the Personal Ensign in August at the Spa.

Lexitonian finished second, by a head to Flagstaff, last out in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs on May 1 in a blanket finish when a nose better than third-place Whitmore, the reigning Champion Male Sprinter.

With regular pilot Tyler Gaffalione up, Lexitonian tracked in fourth position, just 1 1/2-lengths off a swift half-mile of 44.21 set by Bango, in the seven-furlong sprint before digging in down the lane to just miss.

Sisterson said he expects another forward trip for Lexitonian.

“Tyler said to me in the paddock at Churchill that he was going to put him in the race. He felt his best running style is forwardly placed,” said Sisterson. “He's a horse that's never going to win by five or 10 lengths. He works in the mornings to the level of his workmate. He's never going to work in 59 and change, his last work was in 1:02. I think Tyler will ride him forwardly placed. I always think if a horse has speed, why take that away from him.”

Gaffalione will guide Lexitonian from post 4.

The Met Mile is slated as Race 9 on Saturday's 13-race card.

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Multiple Stakes Winner Chance It Makes Long-Awaited Return To Races Sunday

Shooting Star Thoroughbreds LLC's Chance It found no easy spot to make his long-awaited return to the races in Sunday's feature race at Gulfstream Park, where the popular multiple-stakes winner is scheduled to face five battle-tested rivals in a six-furlong optional claiming allowance.

“I'm looking forward to getting him back in action. The race came up a little tougher than I would have liked for his first race back, but he's training well,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “He had a strong work from the gate about eight days ago. That day, I thought he showed he's as good as ever.”

Chance It, the hero of the 2019 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series, has been out of action since finishing fifth in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) March 7, 2020.

The 4-year-old son of Currency Swap captured the Mucho Macho Man to kick off his 3-year-old campaign before starting in the Tampa Bay Derby, in which he dropped back early, made a mild run into contention at the top of the stretch, and faded late.

“There was no sense rushing him back. He's not a horse that will be sent to the breeding shed any time soon,” Joseph said. “He's a horse that can race at 5 and 6 years old, so we wanted to give him the time. He seems to have come back as good as ever.”

Chance It concluded his juvenile campaign with a sharp 7 ¼-length victory in the $400,000 FSS In Reality at 1 1/16 miles. The Florida-bred colt also won the $100,000 FSS Dr. Fager at six furlongs.

Edgard Zayas has the call.

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's Double Crown is also scheduled to make his 2021 debut in Sunday's Race 9 feature. The Kathy Ritvo-trained 4-year-old gelding completed his 2020 campaign with back-to-back graded-stakes placings. After finishing third in the Smile Sprint (G3) at Gulfstream, the son of Bourbon Courage closed to finish second behind heavily favored Yaupon in the Oct. 1 Chick Lang (G3) at Pimlico Race Course.

Double Crown had won back-to-back stakes at Gulfstream prior to placing in the Smile Sprint and Chick Lang.

My Purple Haze Stables' Cool Arrow, who defeated Double Crown in the Smile Sprint, is coming into Sunday's race off a third-place finish behind Miles Ahead, who captured Friday's featured Race 3 at Gulfstream Park as the 6-5 favorite.

Went West, Inter Miami and Man of Honor round out the field.

The Joseph-trained Tonalist's Shape, a multiple graded-stakes winner during the 2019-2020 Championship Meet at Gulfstream, is scheduled to make her 2021 debut in Saturday's Race 10, a seven-furlong optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares.

“She had a long year last year, so we decided to give her a break to freshen her up,” Joseph said.

Tonalist's Shape, who hasn't run since finishing fifth in the Raven Run (G2) at Keeneland Oct. 17, has been prepared for her first start of the year with a series of seven works, including a solid half-mile breeze that was second fastest of 67 May 16.

“She's a bit more tricky [than Chance It]. She's never been a good work horse. Her works have been OK. You're always curious to see how she comes back,” Joseph said. “She's always been a hard horse to read off her works. We hope she comes back with that same determination she had last year.”

Tonalist's Shape won her first five career starts, including the Forward Gal (G3) and Davona Dale (G2) before tasting defeat for the first time in her two-turn debut in the 2020 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2). The daughter of Tonalist returned to win the 1 1/16-mile Hollywood Wildcat at Gulfstream before finishing fourth in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga, fifth in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs and fifth in the Raven Run.

Tonalist's Shape is the 9-5 morning-line favorite in a field of nine that includes Saguaro Row, who finished third in the March 20 Hurricane Bertie (G3) at Gulfstream before shipping to Belmont for a fifth-place finish in the May 2 Ruffian (G2)

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Mischevious Alex Dominates In the Carter

Mischevious Alex (Into Mischief) took his 2021 record to a perfect three-for-three and scored a career high Saturday in Aqueduct's GI Carter H. Breaking sharply alongside the fleet-footed Chateau (Flat Out), the 4-5 chalk allowed his foe to dictate terms, sitting two lengths back in second as Chateau clocked a :23.09 first quarter and :45.89 half-mile. Chateau turned for home in front, but Mischevious Alex was just winding up. The bay inhaled the pacesetter by mid-stretch and rolled clear with ease under a hand ride from Irad Ortiz to win by 5 1/2 lengths. Mind Control (Stay Thirsty) got up for second and Souper Stonehenge (Speightstown) was third with Chateau fading to be fourth out of five. It was the second graded win on the card for both Ortiz and trainer Saffie Joseph.

“I was a little concerned early in the race,” Joseph said. “He was a little far back and I know the track has been heavy and I didn't know if he could make up that much ground. Obviously, he was giving Irad some feel and he rode him with a ton of confidence. He ran well, but I didn't expect him to win a Grade I as easy as he did. I have a lot of respect for the competition.”

As for what's next, Joseph said, “[Part-owner] Chuck [Zacney] has always wanted to go to the [GI] Met Mile because we want to make him [Mischevious Alex] a stallion. Winning a Grade I today takes a lot of pressure off. In my opinion, he wants to sprint six or seven furlongs. Can he get a mile? Yes, against the right company. But it all depends on who shows up. The Met Mile is definitely under consideration and then the two Grade Is at Saratoga [Forego and Vanderbilt]. Hopefully, he comes out of it good and then we'll make a game plan.”

“He came to Saffie's barn in December and he took it from there,” Zacney said. “This was always our goal. We felt this horse deserved a Grade I. That's what we were shooting for, and now he has it.”

Romping by seven lengths in Gulfstream's GIII Swale S. in February of last year, Mischevious Alex followed suit with a facile score in Aqueduct's GIII Gotham S. a month later. With COVID-19 halting racing in much of the country, he did not make his next start until June 20, finishing fourth in Belmont's GI Woody Stephens S. Sixth next out in the GI H. Allen Jerkens S. at Saratoga Aug. 1, the $75,000 KEESEP buy was subsequently shelved for the season and transferred from John Servis to Joseph in the interim. Kicking off 2021 with a decisive optional claimer score at Gulfstream Jan. 10, Mischevious Alex captured the GIII Gulfstream Park Sprint S. last time Feb. 13.

 

Pedigree Notes:

Mischevious Alex is the ninth Grade I winner by leading sire Into Mischief and is also one of 39 graded winners and 92 black-type scorers by the red-hot stallion. He is also the fourth Grade I winner out of a daughter of Speightstown and one of 11 graded winners and 30 black-type victors out of mares by that WinStar stalwart. The winner is bred on the same Into Mischief/Speightstown cross as MGISW Mia Mischief and MGSW & MGISP Engage. His dam White Pants Night is a half-sister to GSW Hebbronville (Majesticperfection); MSW & GSP Master of Disaster (Dance Master) and SW A Day For Dancing (Dance Master). Mischevious Alex was her second foal and she has since produced the 3-year-old gelding Great Gasby (Tiznow); a juvenile colt by Outwork; and a yearling colt by Wicked Strong. White Pants Night was bred back to Audible last season.

Saturday, Aqueduct
CARTER H.-GI, $291,000, Aqueduct, 4-3, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:23.97, ft.
1–MISCHEVIOUS ALEX, 123, c, 4, by Into Mischief
                1st Dam: White Pants Night, by Speightstown
                2nd Dam: More d'Amour, by Tour d'Or
                3rd Dam: Love Connection, by Master Derby
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($75,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP; $140,000 RNA
2yo '19 OBSAPR). O-Cash is King LLC and LC Racing; B-WinStar
Farm, LLC (KY); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $165,000.
Lifetime Record: 12-7-1-1, $614,730. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ 
*Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Mind Control, 123, h, 5, Stay Thirsty–Feel That Fire, by
Lightnin N Thunder. O-Red Oak Stable (Brunetti) & Madaket
Stables, LLC; B-Red Oak Stable (KY); T-Gregory D. Sacco.
$60,000.
3–Souper Stonehenge, 118, g, 5, Speightstown–
Onepointhreekarats, by Medaglia d'Oro. O-Live Oak
Plantation; B-Live Oak Stud (FL); T-Mark E. Casse. $36,000.
Margins: 5HF, 1, HD. Odds: 0.85, 2.60, 18.00.
Also Ran: Chateau, Shoplifted. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

 

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