Chance It caps big week for trainer with In Reality romp

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Chance It capped off the most memorable week of Saffie Joseph Jr.’s training career when drawing off to a 7 1/4-length triumph over Smash Factor late Saturday afternoon at Gulfstream Park to capture the third and final leg of the open division of the Florida Sire Stakes series, the $400,000 In Reality Stakes. Seven days earlier, Joseph registered his first Grade 1 victory with Math Wizard in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby.

Chance It captured two of the three divisions of the series, losing the middle leg when dropping a tough head decision to Liam’s Lucky Charm in the seven-furlong Affirmed four weeks ago. Liam’s Lucky Charm finished a distant third in the In Reality.

With Tyler Gaffalione aboard for the first time, Chance It stalked the early pace set by Smash Factor, who was making only his second career start and first since winning his debut going five furlongs here on June 1. Chance It readily overtook the leader when roused by Gaffalione nearing the quarter pole then drew off with total authority while kept to urging through the final furlong.

Chance It, a Florida-bred son of Currency Swap, is owned by Shooting Star Thoroughbreds LLC. He covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.26 and paid $3.

“You work and you dream for these moments,” an emotional Joseph said after the race. “Math Wizard’s win was unexpected, but this was the important one. This horse is special. Last time he ran, things didn’t go perfect, but he stepped up to the plate and we got beat fair and square. Today he answered the question that he could handle the distance. We though he could, but they still need to go out and do it. And he did everything right. He broke well, he sat and relaxed and won like he had something left. I’ve never had a horse like this, and I still think there is room for improvement.”

Joseph said Chance It is nominated to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile but any decision regarding the race would be made at a later time. Joseph has already said Math Wizard is likely to make his next start in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Two Sixty impresses in My Dear Girl

Four weeks after losing her rider, Edgard Zayas, less than a half-mile into the seven furlong Desert Vixen Stakes, Two Sixty made amends in impression fashion, cruising to an easy 6 1/4-length victory over Filly Jean King in the $400,000 My Dear Girl Stakes.

Two Sixty ducked out suddenly from between horses causing Zayas to lose his balance and fall in the run down the backstretch of the seven-furlong Susan’s Girl on Aug. 31. But with Zayas aboard once again, Two Sixty was on her best behavior in the rich My Dear Girl Stakes, the final leg of the filly division of the Florida Sire Stakes series.

Two Sixty broke alertly and quickly sprinted clear. The daughter of Uncaptured set a reasonable pace, posting splits of 23.72 and 47.76 seconds for the opening half-mile with Zayas having her well in hand from the outset. The pair settled into the stretch with a comfortable advantage and extended their lead to the wire.

Filly Jean King, who won her maiden under a $50,000 claiming tag earlier this summer, chased the winner throughout and while no match was easily second-best. Ceci Valentina, upset winner of the Susan’s Girl, fanned wide into the stretch and rallied mildly to finish a distant third.

Two Sixty is trained by Mark Casse for owner Gary Barber. She completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.41 and paid $12.60.

“The last time I tried to take her off the pace and as soon as she got in between horses and took dirt, she kind of spooked, I lost my balance, and she dropped me,” Zayas said recalling the incident in the Susan’s Girl. “I’ve always had a lot of faith in this filly and I think she’s got a lot of ability and once she gets into the right mind she’s going to be awesome.”

Zayas said he was as surprised as anyone to find himself on the lead with Two Sixty.

“I wasn’t thinking about going to the lead, I was thinking about stalking the pace and keeping her in the clear,” said Zayas. “But once I got an easy lead, I was confident she’d run well from there.”

Nick Tomlinson, assistant to Casse, said Two Sixty got plenty of schooling in the morning since her previous start.

“We just kind of took a step back, went back to the drawing board and tried to figure out what was bothering her,” said Tomlinson. “We put her in behind horses when we worked her and she worked great. But we found when she was surrounded by other horses, she really didn’t like it. I told Edgard in the paddock just to keep her in the clear. Honestly, I was a little surprised when she went for the lead, but I’m glad it worked out today.”

► Marshall Eddy and Great Sister Diane registered major upsets in the $75,000 Mr. Steele and its filly counterpart, the $75,000 Monroe, respectively. Marshall Eddy returned $42.60 after outlasting the favorite Grand Journey to win the Mr. Steele while Great Sister Diane paid $37.60 after drawing in off the also-eligible list to post her surprising victory in the Monroe.