Joseph’s horses disappoint

Saffie Joseph Jr.’s star starter Cookie Dough faded into the last of 14 horses in Saturday’s US$600 000 Apple Blossom Stakes for fillies and mares at Oaklawn Park.

Under Jockey Abel Cedillo, Cookie Dough who sat in second place behind early pacesetter Oillie’s Candy which had ran the first quarter in a blistering 22 seconds, held an early length lead but was caught mid-stretch by the favourite Ce Ce. Ce Ce has now won her last three starts including the Beholder Stakes Grade 1 on March 14 and could be one of the favourites for the Kentucky Oaks later this year.

Joseph’s second charge Queen Nekia was coming off a third place in the Royal Delta Grade 3 at her home track Gulfstream Park behind Cookie Dough, but on the weekend she turned the tables on her stable mate to finish seventh.

Joseph told Horseracing Nation.Com he was very happy to be able to continue to train his horses amid the COVID- 19 Pandemic but added the uncertainty of what was ahead was creating scheduling headaches for three-year-olds and older horses alike.

“As far as racing goes, Gulf Stream has put great stipulations in place, ‘’ Joseph said from his office at Gulfstream. “With protocols as far as testing and checking temperatures and not allowing people at races, I’d say there are far fewer people at the track in the afternoon than the morning. The horses can relax now more during the races,’’ he explained.