Joseph invades with pair for Treasure Chest

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has entered a handful of horses in upcoming stakes at Delta Downs, and the first of his South Florida shippers will see action Friday in the $100,000 Treasure Chest.

Queen Nekia and Gibberish both invade for the Treasure Chest, a one-mile race for fillies and mares. The field of seven also includes Regal Beauty, who enters off back-to-back allowance wins in Kentucky, and Shes Our Fastest, a multiple stakes winner based at Delta.

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Joseph said there were a handful of reasons to target the stakes at Delta.

“I just thought they were good spots for the horses,” he said Wednesday, adding the purses are attractive.

Treasure Chest (Race 8)

KEY CONTENDERS

Queen Nekia, by Harlington
Last 3 Beyers: 72-82-84

◗ Queen Nekia leads the Treasure Chest field in earnings with $424,736. She was a $25,000 claim last December at Gulfstream Park and races for Ken Copenhaver.

“She’s been an overachiever,” Joseph said. “She’s graded stakes-placed, won a stakes. She’s a hard-knocking mare that keeps trying, keeps holding her weight good.”

◗ Queen Nekia became a stakes winner in August in the $150,000 Dance to Bristol at Charles Town. The seven-furlong race was run around two turns, and she won by a length.

“She handled Charles Town well, and we figured because Delta’s a similar kind of configuration, she should handle Delta,” Joseph said.

◗ Queen Nekia ran third in the Grade 3 Royal Delta at Gulfstream in February.

◗ Tim Thornton, who won five races on the Tuesday season opener at Delta, has the mount on Queen Nekia from post 7.

Gibberish, by Lea
Last 3 Beyers: 82-84-64

◗ Gibberish enters off back-to-back allowance wins going a mile. She scored Sept. 20 at Gulfstream Park, and Oct. 11 at Gulfstream Park West.

“She has speed,” Joseph said. “She can track or she can make the lead. I think that kind of style will be useful for that track at Delta.”

◗ Gibberish is owned by e Five Racing Thoroughbreds. Ry Eikleberry has the mount

Regal Beauty, by Malibu Moon
Last 3 Beyers: 85-73-73

◗ She will get good support off back-to-back allowance wins in Kentucky, one at Churchill Downs and her latest at Keeneland.

◗ The races came at one turn. Regal Beauty now moves back to two turns, and she won her maiden at this mile distance at Santa Anita.

◗ Regal Beauty is out of the Grade 1-winning mare Book Review.

◗ Diego Saenz has the mount for Gary and Mary West and trainer Bret Calhoun.