Wind of Change Tries Stakes Company Again for Joseph

If things go as well as he hopes over the next few weeks it won't take trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. long to make his presence felt during his first year with a division at Monmouth Park.

Joseph will jump right into stakes action when he sends out the speedy Wind of Change  in the $100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes May 29, the headliner of Monmouth Park's second day of live racing.

He is also pointing Ny Traffic , last year's runner-up in the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1), to the June 12 Salvator Mile Stakes (G3).

"We have 15 horses at Monmouth Park right now but we will be sending in more very soon," said Joseph. "The location is ideal. That's one of the reasons we decided to come here. It's good racing and the stakes program is good—and we had a good experience on Haskell Day last year (when Ny Traffic lost by a nose to Authentic)."

"All of the horses ran good that day and we really enjoyed it. That's another reason we're here."

Assistant Washonn Rochester will oversee Joseph's barn at Monmouth Park, though Joseph said he will make it to the Jersey Shore as often as his schedule permits.

Wind of Change, a 6-year-old who was bred in Brazil, will be making his second start for Joseph after four straight races in graded stakes company under former trainer Amador Merei Sanchez.

The horse's first start for Joseph represented a cutback in distance to six furlongs—the distance of the Mr. Prospector—and was a sharp effort, with Wind of Change finishing a narrow second in an April 24 allowance optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park.

"We thought he would win first time out and he ran second," said Joseph. "It was a little disappointing, but the horse that beat him is a credible horse."

Wind of Change, sixth in the Salvator Mile a year ago, struggled in graded stakes company before his near-miss in his debut with Joseph. The son of Forestry is 7-for-20 lifetime.

"He had some good races before we got him but he kind of tailed off," Joseph said. "That's why we decided to cut him back in distance. We wanted to see if he had the speed to run six furlongs. He has only tried six furlongs three times in America (in 10 U.S. starts).

"So we wanted to see if he could do it and he showed he could. So I think the distance is good for him."

"Ideally we'd like it to be fast but it looks like it's going to be sloppy. He handles an off track just as well," Joseph said.

Entries: Mr. Prospector S.

Monmouth Park, Saturday, May 29, 2021, Race 9

• STK
• 6f
• Dirt
• $100,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 3:59 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Wind of Change (BRZ)	J.C. Diaz, Jr.	118	Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.	5/2
2	2Croatian (KY)	Hector Rafael Diaz, Jr.	118	Jerry Hollendorfer	8/1
3	3Golden Brown (NJ)	Carlos J. Hernandez	118	Patrick B. McBurney	6/1
4	4Absentee (KY)	Dylan Davis	118	Jorge Duarte, Jr.	8/1
5	5Royal Urn (NJ)	Nik Juarez	118	Kelly J. Breen	5/1
6	6Awesome Anywhere (FL)	Isaac Castillo	118	Jerry Hollendorfer	7/2
7	7Always Sunshine (FL)	Jose C. Ferrer	118	Edward T. Allard	3/1
8	8Substantial (KY)	Keiber J. Coa	118	Chelsey E. Moysey	15/1