Ace Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr Strikes Twice in Florida Racetracks

Ace Barbadian trainer Saffie Joseph Jr continued his rich vein of form this year when he landed wins at two different racetracks on Sunday in the American state of Florida.

The 36-year-old won at Gulfstream Park in the city of Hallandale Beach to formalise his early lead in the trainers’ standings in the spring-summer meet and kept up appearances with his 10th win for the season at Tampa Bay Downs.

Joseph saddled the 2-1 chance Bellwether that won by one length under Samy Camacho in the US$20 000 maiden, claiming the ninth race over 1 700 metres on the turf course at Tampa Bay.

Camacho saved ground aboard Bellwether around the first turn and put his mount to stalk the leader on the outside on the backstretch.

He then brought Bellwether around the far turn in the two path and kicked the five-year-old, dark bay mare clear in the lane and held that margin to the wire in a time of one minute, 43.37 seconds.

Joseph also prepared the 8-1 chance General Ledger that won by half-length under Fernando Jara in the US$61 000 allowance optional, claiming the sixth race over seven furlongs on the dirt at Gulfstream.

Jara got General Ledger to chase the leaders in the five path and drove his mount in the three path around the final turn.

He then produced General Ledger, turning into the stretch, and the three-year-old bay colt inched ahead of an outer foe in the final 100 metres to finish in 1 min, 24.89 secs. (CMC)