Fresh from his success in the Sandy Lane Gold Cup two weeks ago, Barbadian Saffie Joseph Jr continued his winning momentum in the United States when he captured the US$125 000 Grade III Michelob Ultra Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs last weekend.
The victory at the west Florida oval came with the outstanding six-year-old bay Skippylongstocking, who trounced the four-year-olds and upward by 1-¼ lengths over a mile and sixteenth, producing a new track record of one minute, 41.20 seconds in the process.
In doing so, Skippylongstocking completed a treble of the wins in the event, following on from successes in 2017 and last year.
Joseph also won twice at Gulfstream Park where he is the leading trainer, scoring with Lookin for Roses in race four and Here’s the Kicker in race seven.
Going off as the favourite in the Challenger Stakes – one of five added-money races on the 12-race programme – Skippylongstocking under jockey Tyler Gaffalione pressed the pace set by 1-1 chance Most Wanted, through fractions of 23.89 for the quarter and 47.64 for the half.
Longshot El Principito sat third while 8-1 choice Instant Coffee rounded out the four-horse field, three lengths off the front three.
The race quickened at the three-eighths pole, with Gaffalione bringing Skippylongstocking to challenge on the outside and Most Wanted responding in kind.
Most Wanted held a narrow lead off the final turn but Skippylongstocking bore down on the outside to grab the lead in the final furlong and reach the wire under a hands-ride.
“I didn’t want to run into Most Wanted in this race, but we had already committed to run. I have a lot of respect for that horse,” Joseph said.
“But we were full of confidence because ‘Skippy’ was doing so well. He traveled well, and really laid his head down and finished well.
“Three in a row. … He has really taken us on a wild ride. It’s just so special, and all the glory to God. Hopefully next year, we can come back here and make it four in a row.”
At Gulfstream Park in south Florida, favourite Lookin for Roses beat the three-year-olds and upward by 1-¼ lengths over a mile and 70 yards, the five-year-old bay gelding stalking from mid-pack under Edgard Zayas, making a bid around the far turn before grabbing the lead at the sixteenth pole.
Meanwhile, Here’s the Kicker made all the running in a mile trip to beat the four-year-old and upward fillies and mares by 4-½ lengths, after producing splits of 23.86, 46.45 and 1:10.81 to be three lengths clear in the stretch run.
Joseph is the runaway leader at Gulfstream, currently on 62 wins – 30 clear of Canadian Mark Casse – in the season which wraps up March 30.
Two weeks ago, Joseph won his first-ever Gold Cup when Rasheed Hughes steered Harrow to victory in the prestigious race at Garrison Savannah.
(BT)
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