HALLANDALE BEACH – Defending champion trainer Saffie Joseph Jr stretched his lead at Gulfstream Park in Florida when he produced a double on the New Year’s Day 10-race card.
The Barbadian won with favourite Strand of Gold in the US$31 000 race two with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr aboard before returning to capture the $92 000 race seven with 7-1 choice Eldon’s Prince, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione.
With the double, Joseph moved to 13 wins for the season – six clear of the trio of Brian Lynch, Mark Casse and Jose Francisco D’Angelo.
His opening win came over a mile and sixteenth when Ortiz produced a late surge with Strand of Gold to edge the four-year-old and upward fillies and mares by a neck in a daring finish.
Strand of Gold was last around the first turn and a whopping eight lengths off the lead, as 10-1 bet Calming Sea produced the early fractions of 24.79 seconds and 49.26, with Belleshazza stalking from second and 22-1 outsider Seekingbythestorm well placed in third.
The status quo remained on the far turn as Calming Sea remained a length clear with Strand of Gold still last, with three-and-a-half furlongs left to run.
Thwarted by traffic down on the inside at the top of the lane and seemingly out of contention, Ortiz switched the four-year-old chestnut filly to the outside and unleashed a thundering run, 10-1 bet Mary Katherine going with them to ensure a tight finish.
Gaffalione delivered Joseph’s second win of the evening when he combined with the five-year-old gray Eldon’s Price to narrowly get the better of the four-year-olds and upward.
In another mile and sixteenth trip, Gaffalione settled Eldon’s Price off the pace as 19-1 chance Souzak emerged as leader following a tussle with 10-1 bet Bluebirds Over and 9-1 choice Script.
Souzak took the field to the half in 48.04 with Gaffalione racing Eldon’s Price along the rails in fifth but just four lengths off the leader.
Approaching the final turn, Gaffalione angled Eldon’s Price to the outside as the pace quickened but Souzak still held the lead at the top of the stretch.
Souzak faded and Kuramata, Eldon’s Prince and Script then engaged in a heated battle in mid-stretch before Gaffalione got the best out of the gray in the middle.
CMC
