HALLANDALE BEACH, Florida, CMC – Champion trainer Saffie Joseph Jr left it late before clinching a triple on Sunday’s 10-race card at his home base, Gulfstream Park.
In his only two previous outings on the day’s card, the 37-year-old came up short as his entrants – favorite Phat Chance in race three and another favorite Lorenz in race seven – both finished second under Edgard Zayas.
Joseph’s fortunes turned in race eight when favorite Breezero captured race eight over five furlongs, and the Barbadian then won the day’s two final races with favorite One Sharp Cookie in race nine and 2-1 chance Bet Stormy in the finale.
With the triple, Joseph stormed to 69 wins for the campaign, 37 clear of Jose Francisco D’Angelo, and installed himself as the overwhelming favorite to top the season ending September 29.
Joseph opened his account when Emisael Jaramillo steered three-year-old bay filly Breezero to a 3-¾ length victory over the three-year-old and upward fillies and mares.
Six-to-one chance Holy Coffee led most of the way before Breezero grabbed the lead just before the eighth pole and surged to the finish impressively.
Joseph’s second win came over seven furlongs when Zayas piloted three-year-old colt One Sharp Cookie to a 3-½ length score over the three-year-old and upwards.
One Sharp Cookie pressured pacesetter Roukie before assuming the lead at the three-eighth and drawing off to win handsomely.
Zayas put Joseph in the winners’ enclosure for the third time, combining with three-year-old chestnut filly Bet Stormy to get the better of the three-year-old and upward maiden fillies and mares, going a mile and 70 yards.
and then 