Joseph Jr wins Smile Sprint in impressive hat-trick
HALLANDALE BEACH, Florida (CMC) — Barbadian trainer Saffie Joseph Jr dominated proceedings at Gulfstream Park, capturing the feature US$120,000 Smile Sprint Stakes with 11-1 outsider Comedy Town as part of a three-timer here Saturday.
The 37-year-old captured race six over a mile and 70 yards with 2-5 choice Post Facto before following up in race seven over seven furlongs with favourite Whiskey Park.
Joseph then secured the main prize when 11-1 outsider Comedy Town came from a stalking position to beat the three-year-olds and upward by 1¼ lengths in a time of one minute, 10.03 seconds.
Going six furlongs, favourite Octane, 3-1 bet Sibelius, and 7-1 chance Swirvin — also conditioned by Joseph — stormed through the opening half in 44.97 seconds, with jockey Drayden van Dyke sitting Comedy Town just off the lead.
Turning from home van Dyke swung the six-year-old gelding to the outside and into the four-path, picking off Sibelius who briefly led, before hitting the front passing the eighth pole and storming confidently to the wire.
“He was working good on dirt a week after we claimed him,” said Joseph who co-owns the gelding.
“He ran his first race on Tapeta and he didn’t run that good [so] I decided to give him a chance on the dirt.
“Last time when he won, it was a sloppy track. He was training well, and today he was super impressive.
“He sat off horses, he went by some nice horses [like] Sibelius [who] won a Group 1. He proved he is legit and he showed a new dimension.”
For Comedy Town it was the second-straight win following a two-length score here last month, boosting career earnings to $336, 675.
The gelding has logged five wins overall along with five seconds and four thirds, and is the third-straight Florida-bred winner of the Smile Sprint.
Joseph had earlier opened his account with Post Facto, go-to rider Edgard Zayas combining with the four-year-old bay gelding to beat the three- or four-year-olds and upward by 3¼ lengths in a front-running performance.
Zayas was once again at the controls in Joseph’s next success, this time bringing the brown colt Whiskey Park with a strong stretch run to get the better of the three-year-old maidens by four lengths.