HALLANDALE BEACH, Florida – Many will not be surprised if Barbadian trainer Saffie Joseph Jr again himself at next year’s prestigious Kentucky Derby.
And he will have Make It Big to thank if he does, the two-year-old colt capturing the US$401 200 Remington Springboard Mile at Remington Park last weekend and earning a crucial ten points towards The Run For the Roses next May.
The result in Oklahoma City left Make It Big undefeated in three starts and left Joseph understandably on a high.
“We are, obviously, very excited. He was stepping up in class, shipping for the first time and going two turns [for the first time],” explained Joseph, who debuted at last year’s Churchill Downs showpiece with NY Traffic.
“He (Make It Big) handled it all as good as you could ask for. He sat in the pocket, made a move down the backside, and was gutsy enough to hold off Osbourne.”
Make It Big won his maiden on October 9 at Gulfstream Park here and returned to win the Ocala Stud Juvenile Sprint Stakes three weeks later, both events at seven furlongs.
So the Springboard Mile presented the first real distance challenge for Make It Big, who responded well with replacement rider Jose Ortiz aboard, filling in for the injured Edgard Zayas.
Ortiz sat the colt off the pace early on before making his bid approaching the final turn, and putting away pacesetters Concept and Osbourne with an impressive stretch drive.
Joseph said the smooth transition to the longer distance, in addition to the three different types of wins in his outings to date, showed Make It Big’s versatility.
“You would think the more distance the better. That’s how he trained. Up until six weeks before he made his debut, he kind of seemed he’d go long, long, long,” Joseph pointed out.
“He was lacking that early speed. When we put blinkers on him, they gave him that dynamic, showing some speed. We already knew he had the stamina. He’s really turned around.”
He added: “He led the first time. The second time, he sat off [the pace]. This time, he sat between horses. He keeps getting better and better, slowly but surely. He’s going in the right direction, that’s what you want.”
Joseph said Make It Big’s next major assignment was still uncertain but the Fountain of Youth Stakes – another Kentucky Derby prep – at Gulfstream next March, may be a possibility.
“The Holy Bull [on February 5] might come a little quick, but everything is still in play,” Joseph said about the Kentucky Derby prep run over a mile and sixteenth also at Gulfstream.
“Maybe the Fountain of Youth. We’ll talk it over with the ownership group and Rick Sacco, the stable manager. He was the one that recommended after he won last time that we should try this race (Springboard). It turned out a perfect choice of race.” (CMC)
