Joseph well represented in Roar and Powder Break stakes

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla – How loaded is Saffie Joseph Jr. in the 3-year-old sprint division? While his Drain the Clock cools his heels awaiting the Grade 1 Woody Stephens, the meet’s leading conditioner still has three others to send out in Saturday’s $75,000 Roar Stakes at Gulfstream Park, which shares top billing on the 12-race program along with the $75,000 Powder Break at one mile for fillies and mares on the turf.

Joseph has three of the six 3-year-olds entered in the 6 1/2-furlong Roar, led by likely favorite Collaborate, who is exiting a fifth place finish in the Grade 1 Florida Derby. He’ll also send out the graded stakes-placed Moonlite Strike and stakes-placed Lauda Speed in a field that includes the speedy turf stakes winner Warrior’s Pride, Gatsby, and Oh Steve.

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Collaborate became a bit of a buzz horse for the Florida Derby after registering a 12 1/2-length maiden win going a mile for which he received a 90 Beyer Speed Figure in his second start. But after getting bumped at the start and hung wide pressing the early running in the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby, his two-turn debut, Collaborate faded and finished nearly 15 lengths behind race winner Known Agenda. Collaborate has worked well in preparation for turning back in distance for the Roar, posting a 58.60-second bullet five-furlong clocking on May 2.

Moonlite Strike also shortens up after setting the pace and finishing a tiring sixth over the Tapeta track at Turfway Park in the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks on March 27. That outing followed a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby. Moonlite Strike captured his lone local outing, going a mile under allowance conditions in his 2-year-old finale.

Lauda Speed has won two of his last three starts, with his lone setback during that period a third-place finish in the six-furlong Hutcheson over a sloppy track March 6.

Warrior’s Pride has the best chance of upsetting the Joseph juggernaut in the Roar. He returns to the main track off a gate-to-wire three-quarter-length victory making his turf debut in the five-furlong Texas Glitter on March 20. Warrior’s Pride contested a lively pace before faltering to finish fifth in the Hutcheson.

A dozen fillies and mares, including a pair of main-track-only entrants, were entered in the Powder Break, with a legitimate case to be made for a half-dozen or more of them.

Joseph’s imposing presence will be felt in the Powder Break as well, with Katama Moonlight bringing a two-race winning streak into her stakes debut and Shifty She returning off a fourth-place finish under high-level allowance conditions in her first start off a 16-month layoff here April 9.

Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse counters with a pair of his own in Lashara and Mo of the West, who has been freshened since missing by a neck after an extended stretch battle in the Sunshine Millions Turf four months earlier.

The multiple graded stakes-placed Belle Laura may go postward the tepid favorite turning back to perhaps a more suitable distance after finishing a tiring eighth trying 11 furlongs for the first time in the Grade 3 Orchid. Morning Molly also exits the Orchid, checking home sixth in her lone start since a game second-place finish behind Micheline in the Grade 2 Hillsborough on March 6 at Tampa Bay Downs.

Kelsey’s Cross, who may be cycling back to her graded stakes-placed form after an allowance victory last month, and Sunshine Millions Turf winner Bienville Street also demand respect at their best.