Joseph out front

CMC – Embattled Barbadian trainer Saffie Joseph Jr had a couple of reasons to smile on the last two race days at Gulfstream Park in the United States.

Joseph, whose suspension from Churchill Downs in the city of Louisville in the state of Kentucky remains in place, held onto a narrow lead in the trainers’ standings at Florida’s main racing oval with single wins on successive days.

The 36-year-old was suspended from the world-renowned racetrack three days before the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby over the unexplained deaths of two horses.

Joseph, winner of the trainers’ title in the last three racing seasons at Gulfstream, now has 17 wins from 58 starters for the spring-summer meet – keeping him three clear of closest rival, Jose Francisco D’Angelo.

He prepared the 9-5 favourite Forces Sweetheart that won four lengths clear, under Leonel Reyes, in the U.S. $29 000 fourth race going six furlongs on Friday on the dirt track.

Forces Sweetheart prompted the pace in the three path before Reyes produced the three-year-old, chestnut filly around the turn, and she took the lead in the upper stretch and drew clear under left-handed encouragement to finish in one minute, 11.81 seconds.

Joseph sent off the odds-on favourite Mr Peeks that won by a convincing six lengths, under Edgar Perez, in the U.S. $50 000 seventh race going six furlongs on Saturday on the dirt track.

Mr Peeks pressed the pace two wide, drew clear nearing the quarter pole, and the three-year-old, chestnut colt widened under a drive from Perez to clock 1 min, 11.56 secs.

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