Jolting Joe gets maiden win in Cab Calloway division of New York Stallion Stakes
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A horse winning their maiden in a stakes races is a relatively rare occurrence, but the trend has become fashionable thus far in the New York Stallion Stakes for 3-year-olds on the grass this summer at Saratoga.
Fresco escaped the maiden ranks in her fourth career start when rallying to victory as the odds-on favorite in the filly division, the Statue of Liberty Stakes, on July 23. And on Thursday, Jolting Joe followed suit, earning his diploma with similarly popular 1 3/4-length victory over stablemate Turbo Drive and a field of four other 3-year-olds that also included Fresco.
The well-travelled Jolting Joe – a Kentucky-bred but eligible for the series being by the New York-based stallion Mission Impazible – had finished second in all four previous starts. Each race came against open company and at four different tracks, starting at Churchill Downs and including stops at Gulfstream Park and Gulfstream Park West at 2 and more recently Ellis Park, where he was beaten a head facing older horses in his 3-year-old debut.
Trying New York-sired company for the first time in the Cab Calloway, Jolting Joe rated within easy striking distance of Stuy Town Baby under patient handling from jockey Tyler Gaffalione. Jolting Joe advanced three wide into the stretch, overtook Dream Bigger nearing the furlong grounds, and withstood a bid from Turbo Drive near midstretch before edging away under strong handling at the end.
Turbo Drive, a New York-bred allowance winner in his previous start, advanced outside to engage his stablemate for the lead through the furlong grounds but was not good enough. Zipalong outfinished Fresco for third. The latter moved within closer contention after six furlongs, steadied some in traffic entering the stretch, but could not muster the sufficient response once clear.
Jolting Joe is owned by Skychai Racing LLC and trained by Mike Maker. He paid $4.
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“The horse ran a credible race at Ellis Park,” Maker said. “He seems to find some tough competition and he proved our high hopes for him today. He seems to be moving in the right direction. Some of the seconds we were disappointed with, but turned out they were some live races. He was just getting beat by some good horses. I think he’ll run on for a Mission Impazible, his gallop-outs in his last two races have been tremendous.”
Maker said he thought Jolting Joe would be up on the lead, but added “I left it up to Tyler, and he rode a great race as usual.”
As for runner-up Turbo Drive, Maker said “he lost a little ground. He was just outrun, but he ran a great race as well.”