Joseph Sends Out Strong Trio in Gulfstream Park Mile

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. will triple-up for the March 5 $200,000 WinStar Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes (G2) with Collaborate , Ny Traffic , and Girolamo's Attack  with the belief that the one-turn mile distance of the tradition-rich race for older horses will be ideal for all three.

Joseph, currently atop the Championship Meet trainer standings, is looking for Three Chimneys Farm and e Five Racing Thoroughbreds' Collaborate  to realize his potential in the one-turn Gulfstream Park Mile.

"The biggest compromise for him is that he doesn't want to go two turns. He had that throat surgery before we got him. I think that compromises his true ability. So far, going one turn he's been very impressive," Joseph said. "This is going to be a good test. It's going to be a good chance to show he's a next-level horse. We strongly believe he is."

Collaborate, who is 2-for-2 at the mile distance at Gulfstream, is coming off an off-the-pace allowance optional claiming victory at 6 1/2 furlongs in his first start since finishing off the board in the two-turn Curlin Stakes July 30 at Saratoga Race Course.

"I was a little concerned it was too much on the short side for him. The whole race he traveled like a winner. He didn't have anywhere to go, but when he did find room, for such a big horse he really quickened," Joseph said. "That's what gives us so much confidence going into this race."

Collaborate breezed three furlongs in a bullet :34.36 Sunday at Gulfstream.

"We're following the same routine that worked last time. He's been in great form. He had a super work two weeks ago going five-eighths with a strong gallop-out. He's in great form. I believe a one-turn mile is his best distance," Joseph said. "He's going to face much better-quality horses. Bill Mott's horse (Speaker's Corner) won the Hooper very impressively. He is going to have to prove himself."

John Fanelli, LC Racing, Cash is King, Paul Braverman, and Team Hanley's Ny Traffic proved himself against some of the top horses in training during his 3-year-old season, finishing second by a nose behind Authentic   in the 2020 TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) and second behind Maxfield   in the Matt Winn Stakes (G3).

"Those were both two-turn races against top company. We've only run him one turn twice and he won both by wide margins in fast times against lesser company and against New York-breds," Joseph said. "This is going to be his one-turn test against open company."

Ny Traffic is unraced since romping in the Hudson Handicap last October against New York-breds at Belmont Park.

"He's coming off a layoff. Again, since we cut him back in distance, he's been very impressive in both of his cutback races. This is his first time going a one-turn mile," Joseph said. "It's a tall task coming off a layoff, but we're going to give it a try."

Fanelli, LC Racing, Braverman, and Timothy Pinch's Girolamo's Attack, who finished fourth in the Hooper, won back-to-back overnight handicaps at the mile distance during Gulfstream's Fall Meet.

Tyler Gaffalione has the mount aboard Collaborate; Irad Ortiz Jr. has the return call on Ny Traffic; and Edwin Gonzalez is scheduled to ride Girolamo's Attack for the first time Saturday.

The one-two finishers of the Jan. 29 Fred W. Hooper Stakes Presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa (G3), Speaker's Corner  and Fearless , will attempt to thwart the Joseph trio in the Gulfstream Park Mile. 

Prior to his loss to Speaker's Corner, Repole Stable's Fearless was a dominant victor of the 2021 Harlan's Holiday Stakes (G3) over this oval. 

"(Fearless is) doing well. He usually does well here. He should be sitting on a big race," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "I wish it were a little further, but it's the option we have."

Completing the field are Endorsed , returning to action after a fourth-place finish at 85-1 odds in the Jan. 29 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Presented by 1/ST BET (G1), multiple graded stakes winner Diamond Oops , Injunction , and Bourbon War . 

Entries: WinStar Gulfstream Park Mile S. (G2)

Gulfstream Park, Saturday, March 05, 2022, Race 10

• Grade II
• 1m
• Dirt
• $200,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 4:40 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Girolamo's Attack (KY)	Edwin Gonzalez	120	Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.	20/1
2	2Bourbon War (KY)	Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.	118	Robert B. Hess, Jr.	20/1
3	3Speaker's Corner (KY)	Junior Alvarado	124	William I. Mott	5/2
4	4Fearless (KY)	Luis Saez	124	Todd A. Pletcher	3/1
5	5Injunction (KY)	Joel Rosario	118	Carlo Vaccarezza	20/1
6	6Ny Traffic (NY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	122	Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.	9/2
7	7Endorsed (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	120	Michael J. Maker	6/1
8	8Collaborate (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	118	Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.	8/1
9	9Diamond Oops (KY)	Romero Ramsay Maragh	122	Patrick L. Biancone	6/1