Honor D Lady one of 11 wins for Joseph in Delaware

Barbadian trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. had 11 wins over the three-day holiday weekend in the USA. Ridden by jockey Jose Ortiz, the Joseph-trained Honor D Lady captured the $500,000 Delaware Handicap (G2), the main feature at Delaware Park.

Stat also gave Joseph victory in the $100,000 Soldier’s Dancer Sunday at Gulfstream Park, with Joseph-trained horses also second and third in the Soldier’s Dancer. But the win for Honor D Lady may be one of the most lucrative wins this year for the Royal Palm Meet’s leading trainer.

“Each one is important in its own right,” the 37-year-old Joseph declared. “You win the Delaware Handicap and you have a good weekend, but it’s important that the horses run good in this stake for these owners.

“So, you keep moving forward. You’re thankful for everything that’s happening. All glory to God. I’m just proud of the team. They work their butts off. They make me look good.”

Going a mile and three-sixteenth for the three-year-old and upward fillies and mares on Sunday, Honor D Lady moved up from third before bidding on the turn, grabbing the lead at the top of the stretch and roaring to the finish 5-½ lengths clear in a time of 1:59.86.

For the four-year-old Honor D Lady, the win was her fifth in 13 starts and her third graded success, following wins in the Remington Park Oaks last year and the Royal Delta Stakes last February – both Grade III.

“She kinda took the lead a little bit before I wanted her to so I had to kind of grab her and take the momentum away from her,” Ortiz said afterwards.

“But I was sitting on a lot of horse and I appreciate Saffie for giving me the opportunity throughout the year.”

Honor D Lady survived a bump at the break to settle into stride in third, as 6-1 choice Abundancia pulled the field through the quarter mile in an easy 24.07 seconds before completing the half in 49.67.

Malibu Beauty, the longest shot in the race at 51-1, stalked from second with the trio Saddle Up Jessie, Queen of Missoula and Wet Paint keeping close watch on the leaders.

Heading down the backstretch, Ortiz eased Honor D Lady off the rail and into the clear, before surging on the outside to take out both front-runners, and enter the lane in command.

Saddle Up Jessie chased desperately but Honor D Lady widened her lead impressively, to reach the wire strongly.

Joseph has stormed to 59 wins in the Gulfstream Park season, to lead the championship by a whopping 29.

(CMC/TF)