HALLANDALE BEACH, Florida, CMC – Ace Barbadian trainer Saffie Joseph Jr continued his march towards a ninth successive title when he landed a double on Friday at Gulfstream Park in the United States.
The 36-year-old had his place at the top of the standing fortified after the 2-1 chance HOUSE OF MELODY won the U.S. $ 32 000 maiden claiming sixth race under stable jockey Edgard Zayas and the 3-2 favourite COTTON won the U.S. $25 000 claiming ninth and final race on the card under Irad Ortiz.
Joseph leads the standings with 59 wins, and he is 27 wins clear of his nearest rival, American horse racing Hall of Famer, Todd Pletcher at the main racing facility in the state of Florida, where the winter-spring season ends on March 31.
HOUSE OF MELODY, a three-year-old, bay filly, completed the 1 500-metre trip around the turf course in one minute, 29.74 seconds.
Zayas put her to track the clear pacesetter in the three-path before pushing her to take over nearing the eighth pole and drawing clear under a drive to win 1-1/2 lengths clear.
COTTON, a six-year-old, dark bay gelding, finished a five-furlong sprint on the all-weather track in 55.86 secs, less than a tick off the track record.
Ortiz, similarly, put the ol’ geezer to track in the four-path and nudged him along in the three-path around the turn before floating to the five-path in the upper stretch and inching past the inside pacesetter late for a victory by a neck.
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