It's only a couple of hours' drive from Gregory Sacco's barn at Monmouth Park on the Jersey shore to beautiful Belmont Park on the New York City/Long Island border. But it's a world away when you're competing in an American classic race, as Sacco will be when he sends out Joevia in the June 8 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1).
Sacco, who will also saddle grade 1 winner Mind Control for the Woody Stephens Stakes Presented by Mohegan Sun (G1) earlier on the card, is the son of trainer William Sacco, Monmouth's leading conditioner in 1962. Gregory's uncles were also trainers, and he and his brother, Rick, who manages Red Oak Farm for the Brunetti family, learned the horse business from their relatives from the ground up.
"I'm so thankful to them for this coming to fruition," Gregory Sacco said while watching Mind Control gallop June 7 at Belmont. "They were great horsemen who didn't have the opportunities we've gotten. They worked hard, and it's an honor for me to be in this race."
Joevia is a son of Shanghai Bobby out of the War Front mare Peace Process who was bred in Kentucky by Ikhana Farm and is owned by Jeff and Michael Fazio. He took the May 12 Long Branch Stakes over a sloppy surface at Monmouth in gate-to-wire fashion, winning the 1 1/16-mile event by daylight. He got into all sorts of trouble two races back when seventh—before a disqualification—in the Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G2) in April.
"The Long Branch was more indicative of his ability," noted Sacco. "It was lesser company, but we knew he'd handle two turns and he did it the right way. He's still learning and he had his ears up a little bit waiting on horses, but he did everything professionally and galloped out well.
"The Belmont wasn't on our radar initially after that. It was going to be the (June 16 TVG Pegasus Stakes) at Monmouth, but since Maximum Security is pointing for that, we turned here. The timing is right. Maybe the Shanghai Bobby on top and the breeding doesn't suggest a mile and a half, but you don't know until you run them. He acts like he can get the distance, and hopefully he performs well for us."
Joevia veered in at the beginning of the Wood and caused interference that saw him placed 11th. But he ran well until midstretch, and he has plenty of speed, which will come in handy from his inside post position in the Belmont.
"We're gonna let him break and see what happens, but we won't be far from the lead," Sacco said of the Belmont. "We don't have to make the lead. He doesn't mind stalking, and he's trained behind horses in the morning. It's a tougher caliber of horse here, but we should be saving ground. We'll see if we have enough horse, but we should get a good position."
Joevia has two victories and two runner-up efforts from five starts and has earned $131,600. And he has brought his trainer two hours and a universe away from Monmouth.
"It's my first classic, so it's pretty exciting," Sacco said. "It's overwhelming. It's what you dream about."