Joseph and Romans work stakes horses

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainers Saffie Joseph Jr. and Dale Romans dominated Sunday’s work tab at Gulfstream Park, which included a handful of horses prepping for upcoming stakes both here and out of town.

Joseph’s contingent was led by his once-beaten 3-year-old Drain the Clock, who worked four furlongs in 48.93 in preparation for a possible start in the Fountain of Youth, and Ny Traffic, who zipped the same distance in 47.30 in company with stablemate Ubiquitous as he continues to prepare for his first start since the 2020 Preakness. Joseph also had the graded stakes-placed Sound Machine out at dawn to breeze four furlongs in 49.37.

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Romans had to call an audible for Mr Freeze, who was to run last Saturday in the Razorback at Oaklawn Park, which has been rescheduled to next Sunday. He sent the Grade 1 winner out here to breeze an easy half-mile in 48.75 instead. Stablemate Coastal Defense worked a strong five-eighths from the half-mile pole in 1:00.48, galloping out a full six furlongs in 1:13.09 in his second drill since a sixth-place finish in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational.

◗ Irad Ortiz Jr. extended his lead atop the standings by posting four consecutive victories on Sunday’s card. Ortiz won races 5-8 with Lontano ($5.40), Bold Agenda ($3.80), I Kickn ($3.40), and Come Storming ($5.20). His quest for a five-win day fell just short in the nightcap when Ortiz finished second aboard the favored Cadencia, beaten by his brother Jose, who guided second choice Alwayz Late to victory.