Barn Tour: Joseph talks Pegasus contenders, top 3-year-olds

Saffie Joseph Jr. is right where you’d expect to find him: at the top of the win column at Gulfstream Park.

Entering his 13th year of training in the U.S., the Barbados native is coming off his best earnings year, just over $10 million for 2022.

He expects to run three horses in the upcoming Grade 1, $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream plus one each in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) and Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G3).

Joseph spoke with Horse Racing Nation on Tuesday to discuss these contenders, 3-year-olds you might see on the Kentucky Derby trail and others in his stable for the latest in our Barn Tour series.

White Abarrio. Heading into the Pegasus, Joseph knows the one fact that everyone seems to cite regarding last year’s winner of the Florida Derby (G1). That his only wins have come at Gulfstream. “In reality that's what's happened,” Joseph said. “He's only won at Gulfstream, so you can't debate that. But his fastest race, speed figure-wise, was last time in the Cigar Mile (G1, a close third). So number-wise, his best race on numbers was his last race at Aqueduct. And (the chatter) is a good thing, because the race is at Gulfstream, so I hope that means people believe he can win this thing. So we're not going to argue that. But overall he's run faster numbers, as I said, in the last race, outside of Gulfstream. … Now he's running out of his own stall, doesn't have to travel, so it's a good thing.”

Skippylongstocking. The 4-year-old also is headed to the Pegasus after winning the Harlan’s Holiday (G3) last out. “Skippy, he's the one that tries hard, and he keeps getting a bit better. I maybe underestimated his ability sometimes, and he keeps stepping up and proving me wrong. He's coming off a very good run in the Harlan's Holiday, the race came back very fast from a numbers perspective. So we're very happy with where he's at going into the Pegasus again. He's in good order, and I feel like he's set to run a big race again.” Joseph liked that the colt used tactical speed in the Harlan’s Holiday. “Obviously, this is going to be a much tougher race, but the mile-and-an-eighth would also be better for him, the more distance than the mile-and-sixteenth. So we're happy where he's at.”

O’Connor. After arriving at Joseph’s barn from Chile, the now 6-year-old by the Northern Hemisphere calendar won an allowance race and then finished fourth in the Harlan’s Holiday. He also is expected for the Pegasus. “I was a bit disappointed. Going into the Harlan's Holiday, I thought he was really sitting on a big race after his debut in America, and he kind of just ran even. He wears glue-on shoes, and it was kind of separated where half of the shoe was on, and half was off. I think you're almost better when a shoe comes completely off than stays half on, halfoff. It's an excuse, and excuses get us nowhere. So we hope it was a legit excuse, but time will tell in the next race. We're going to give him a chance. He's going to get more distance, which will be better for him. And he's going to get more space in the race, which will be better for him also.”

Artie’s Princess. The now 6-year-old switched to Joseph’s barn for the 2022 season and went 2-for 5, winning the Presque Isle Downs Masters before a sixth-place finish in the Bessarabian (G2). Joseph has her pointed to the 1 1/16-mile Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf, which would be her first start beyond seven furlongs. “We're going to give her a chance to stretch out long and obviously on the turf. We're going to give her a chance in that kind of race, and hopefully she'll handle it. She trains like she'll stretch out, but until they go two turns and that far, you don't really know for sure.”

Master Piece. This will be the 7-year-old ridgling’s first race for Joseph, who took over from Mike Maker after a change in owners. Joseph said he is pointed to the Pegasus Turf. Master Piece had a record of 4: 1-1-0 last year, finishing eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. He began working at Gulfstream on Jan. 1, most recently going four furlongs in 49.47 seconds on Sunday.

3-year-olds

Mr. Ripple. The Dialed In colt broke his maiden in his first start in September and then missed second by a nose in an allowance optional-claiming race at Gulfstream on Jan. 8. “He's coming off a sickness, so he missed some time,” Joseph said. In his last start, “I thought he did all the dirty work, taking on the other tough horse that was on the lead. It kind of took a toll on him. I was happy to see him re-rally to just miss second, so I thought it was a credible second-race effort, considering how the fractions unfolded. I think he's a horse that we're going to give him a try on the Derby trail to pick up some points. I think he's capable of doing it.”

Prairie Hawk. The Curlin colt broke his maiden in December on his second try then won an allowance optional-claiming race Friday. “Nice colt. First time out ran him six furlongs, and he was very disappointing that day. Kind of shocked he got beat. Ran the easier route with Tampa to break his maiden. … He did it nicely. And then we just decided to come right back there in the allowance, two turns again. I thought he stepped up and beat a couple of decent horses in that race. From a number projectile, he's improving. He has the pedigree, … I think overall, he's a very exciting horse. We're going to keep him on the same Tampa route. He's going to go to the Sam Davis (G3). And all being well, if he gets on well there, probably to the Tampa Bay Derby.”

Lord Miles. Also a Curlin colt, he broke his maiden by 5 3/4 lengths in his first start Nov. 19 and then rallied to finish third in the Jan. 1 Mucho Macho Man. About his first race Joseph said, “he dropped back, and he came at a run, and he won. And then in the Mucho Macho Man, he did something similar, very immature, kind of lost position. He ended up only getting beat like a neck-and-a-half after closing like from 10 lengths behind. So I think he's a horse with a good future. We're very optimistic about him going forward, especially when he goes longer.” A next step hasn’t been decided, but the Sam F. Davis or the Holy Bull (G3) are possibilities.