Joseph keeps stakes stars busy on dark day at Saratoga
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Tuesdays are generally the quietest day around the racetrack, with work tabs usually on the light side barring unforeseen circumstances, such as two consecutive days of rain which left both the main track and Oklahoma training surface wet and for the most part off-limits to workers here on both Sunday and Monday mornings.
As a result, this particular Tuesday had more of a weekend feel to it, with nearly 170 workouts recorded over both tracks during the course of the morning. Among the busiest barns was that of trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who breezed 15 horses over the main track including stable stars Mischevious Alex, Drain the Clock, and Chance It, each of whom turned in serious drills prepping for upcoming Grade 1 stakes appearances.
Mischevious Alex is bound for the six-furlong Alfred G. Vanderbilt a week from Saturday. Impressive winner of the Grade 1 Carter earlier this season, Mischevious Alex is coming off a game third-place finish behind Silver State in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap. Breaking off several lengths behind regular workmate Setting the Mood, Mischevious Alex readily overtook his overmatched partner before drawing off with complete authority while hard held by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., completing five-eighths in 35.16 and 59.85 before galloping out three-quarters in 1:13.01 and easing up seven furlongs in 1:26.33.
“He worked super again,” said Joseph. “I think he’s working better than before the last race, probably as good as he had prior to the Carter.”
Joseph said he is also considering Chance It for the Vanderbilt coming off a pair of second-place finishes following an extended layoff that included a half-length setback behind Miles Ahead in the Grade 3 Smile Sprint earlier this month at Gulfstream Park. Chance It breezed four furlongs, going solo with Tyler Gaffalione aboard, in 48.33, going out five-eighths in 1:01.46 on Tuesday.
“He finished up 24 in and change, which for this track is good, since it’s been a little slow lately from the quarter pole home," said Joseph. "And he galloped out okay. We’ll make a decision after his next work whether to go into the Vanderbilt or wait for the seven-eighths [Grade 1 Forego] later in the meet.”
Drain the Clock waited until after the renovation break, and like Mischevious Alex went in company with Ortiz up. Placed on the inside of the very strong work horse Calibrator, Drain the Clock breezed five furlongs in 59.24 with a 23.44 final quarter split, finishing on his own before drawing away after six furlongs in 1:12.20 up 1:25.75.
“I thought this was a really good work, maybe the best of the morning for us,” said Joseph. “Calibrator is a really strong work horse and I thought Drain the Clock carried the work all the way then galloped out really strong.”
Drain the Clock is coming off a game victory over Jackie’s Warrior in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens at Belmont Park with the pair perhaps on a collision course and likely to meet again in the Grade 2 Amsterdam on Aug. 1.