Gifted Barbadian trainer Saffie Joseph took aim at the lead at Gulfstream Park after winning twice on the February 5th 10-race card.
The 32-year-old won with favorite Foxxy Belle in race four and with 3-5 choice Berhanu, to move to 32 wins for the winter season and ease within two of leader Todd Pletcher.
Michael Maker lies five back in third on 26 with Antonio in fourth on 21, in the four-month campaign which wraps on March 28.
Joseph opened his account in a US$31 000 claiming event when jockey Tyler Gaffalione guided Foxxy Belle, a six-year-old chestnut mare, to a 1-¾ length victory over the four-year-old and upward fillies and mares.
In a five-furlong dash, Gaffalione raced Foxxy Belle just off the pace set by the dueling Coin the Phrase and Precocious Peach, before challenging at the top of the stretch and getting by to reach the wire in a time of 56.66 seconds.
Saffie Joseph was in winner’s row again in a $19 000 maiden claiming as jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. took three-year-old gelding Berhanu to a handsome 2-¾ length win over the three-year-old maidens.
Going 5-½ furlongs, Ortiz stalked the pace set by favorite Beeboo before drawing Berhanu level at the five-sixteenth and getting the better of the final yards to win in a time of one minute, 05.90 seconds.
CMC
