Joseph Cleared to Race, Stable at NYRA Tracks

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has received permission from the New York Racing Association to enter and race at its tracks and have stalls at the upcoming Saratoga Race Course meet.

As first reported by the Daily Racing Form, Joseph plans to run Violet Gibson  in the June 24 Wild Applause Stakes at Belmont Park and has been allotted 23 stalls at Saratoga. A statement from NYRA vice president of communications Pat McKenna noted the authorization to race was made "following consistent and productive dialogue between Saffie Joseph Jr. and NYRA."

Churchill Downs Inc. had announced May 4 the indefinite suspension of Joseph after the sudden deaths of two horses he trained, Parents Pride and Chasing Artie, at Churchill Downs during its first week of racing of its spring meet. Following the two deaths and just before the CDI action, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission announced the trainer's remaining entries that week would be scratched, including Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) winner Lord Miles  from the May 6 Kentucky Derby (G1).

The spring meet at Churchill Downs was ultimately moved to Ellis Park following continued fatalities at Churchill.

"NYRA will adjust accordingly should the investigation in Kentucky reveal any wrongdoing," McKenna concluded in the NYRA statement.

A KHRC necropsy report on Parents Pride posted on the commission's website did not list a cause of death but indicated there were no illegal substances in her system. A report on Chasing Artie has not been published online.