Joseph hopes to bring out Wind of Change's talent in allowance sprint

Saffie Joseph Jr. trains Mischevious Alex, who is considered among the elite sprinters in the country following his impressive victory in the Grade 1 Carter. Joseph is looking to see if he might have another good sprinter on his hands when he sends out Wind of Change against just four rivals in Saturday’s $48,000 allowance feature at Gulfstream Park.

Wind of Change will be making his first start since joining Joseph’s potent stable. In his last start, he set the pace before finishing a tiring sixth in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile on Feb. 27. A Group 3 winner in his native Brazil early in his career, Wind of Change finished off the board in all three of his starts during the Gulfstream Park Championship meet. His best effort was a fourth behind Sleepy Eyes Todd and Grade 1 winner Firenze Fire, beaten just 3 1/2 lengths, in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector in his 2020 finale.

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Wind of Change has worked five times since joining Joseph’s barn, including five furlongs in 58.40 seconds on April 10 at Palm Meadows.

“He’s been with me six or seven weeks now and trains like a real good horse,” Joseph said. “He’s not just a good work horse, I’d call him an exceptional one the way he’s been training since we’ve had him. All his works for me have come with the blinkers off. I contemplated taking them off for the race, but decided it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to change too many things. I even worked him behind another horse, and he relaxed and went by that horse very well, so I feel he doesn’t necessarily need the lead, even though that’s what it seems like looking at his form.”

Joseph said he is turning Wind of Change back to six furlongs and using the race as a possible prep for the Grade 3 Smile Sprint, also at six furlongs, on July 3 at Gulfstream.

“He’s only had two starts going six furlongs since he came to America, and I’m hoping he’ll be stronger at that distance, and if he runs well Saturday, we’ll probably point him torwards the Smile,” Joseph said.

Wind of Change could face his sternest challenges from Cool Arrow and Krsto Skye, who finished first and second in the 2020 Smile Sprint.

Cool Arrow has finished off the board in his four starts since capturing the Smile. He comes off his worst effort in recent memory, a tiring seventh in the seven-furlong Sir Shackleton at Gulfstream.

Krsto Skye won the Claiming Crown Express to close out his 2020 campaign. He is coming off a solid second-place finish March 6 in a race with similar conditions as Saturday’s headliner.

Sail At Sunrise and Miles Ahead round out the starting lineup.

As for Mischevious Alex, Joseph reports he came out of the Carter at Aqueduct in top shape and is being aimed at the Grade 1 Met Mile on June 6 at Belmont Park.

“He didn’t appear to lose any weight when shipping back from New York after the Carter, he really bounced out of the race well,” Joseph said. “He’ll have his first work back on Sunday. The spacing to the Met Mile is good, but he’ll have to improve again and show us he’s as good at a mile as he is at six and seven furlongs. But the way he won last time, he certainly deserves the chance.”