Joseph continues to shine in Florida

HALLANDALE BEACH, Florida – Barbadian trainer Saffie Joseph completed a one-two when favourite Mischievous Alex snatched the day’s richest prize at Gulfstream Park Sunday in the US$52 000 optional claiming in race 10.

Going off as the hot favourite, Mischievous Alex produced a storming stretch run from off the pace to beat the four-year-olds and upward by 3-3/4 lengths in a time of one minute, 09.67 seconds.

Four-to-one chance Yodel E.A Who, the stablemate of Mischievous Alex, ran second to give Joseph more success, while Admiral Lynch came home third.

The result pushed Joseph to his 17th win of the season, one behind Michael Maker in second and eight off leader Todd Pletcher.

All three have sent out 89 horses for the winter campaign at the southeastern Florida racing oval and are the only ones to reach double figures.

Joseph, who arrived in Florida from Barbados just under a decade ago, has posted winnings of $556 635.

Breaking from the inside post in the six furlong sprint, Irad Ortiz Jr gave Mischievous Alex a lightning quick start along the rails but was forced to ease back to fourth as Yodel E.A Who, with Tyler Gaffalione, won the sprint to the lead.

Sixty-to-one outsider Shot Tanker chased from second while Ournationonparade tracked from third, before moving up to second on the far turn.

Admiral Lynch swept by both Mischievous Alex and Shot Tanker to be third coming off the final turn but Ortiz wound up Mischievous Alex and at the top of the stretch was in a four-way battle for the lead.

In the lane, Mischievous Alex and his stablemate Yodel E.A Who pulled away before Ortiz got his four-year-old bay colt to the front at the eighth pole to take command.