Gulfstream: Mischevious Alex Looking Good for G3 Gulfstream Park Sprint

By David Joseph —-

1/ST RACING APPOINTS AARON GRYDER AS VICE PRESIDENT, INDUSTRY RELATIONS

Mischevious Alex Looking Good for G3 Gulfstream Park Sprint

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Multiple graded-stakes winner Mischevious Alex is expected to be a short-priced favorite to capture Saturday’s $100,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint (G3), continuing a most successful Championship Meet for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

The Gulfstream Park Sprint, a six-furlong dash for 4-year-olds and up, and the the $100,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint (G3), a five-furlong race for 4-year-olds and up, will co-headline Saturday’s 12-race program that will also feature a mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool.

Joseph, whose year-round success at Gulfstream has attracted the attention of high-profile owners in recent years, is currently sitting second in the trainer standings behind 16-time Championship Meet titlist Todd Pletcher.

“It was my dream as a young kid, 16, 17, 18, coming to Gulfstream from Barbados on holiday,” said Joseph, who grew up in a racing family in Barbados. “I’d see Todd Pletcher win all the titles and win all the races. Just to compete against him, I feel in awe.”

Joseph, who attended Florida International University and trained successfully in Barbados before returning to Gulfstream to follow his dream, has saddled 33 winners during the Championship Meet, four fewer than Todd, entering Wednesday’s program.

“We came into this year with a lot of good horses and good owners who wanted to claim horses at the top level,” the 34-year-old trainer said. “We came in with high expectations. We got off to what I’d say was a slow start in December, but as the year turned everything started to click and we’ve had a good January and February so far. You can’t be more satisfied.”

Mischevious Alex, who is owned by Cash is King LLC and LC Racing LLC, joined Joseph’s stable for his 2021 campaign after a productive 3-year-old season that included victories in the Swale (G3) at Gulfstream and the Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct. Making his first start since finishing sixth in the Aug. 20 H. Allen Jerkens (G1) at Saratoga, the son of Into Mischief made a sweeping move into the stretch and drew off to win by 3 ¾ lengths in a Jan, 10 optional claiming allowance.

“On his form before, it showed he was a very good horse. He had run at Gulfstream before and his race [in the Swale] was just as good,” Joseph said. “I didn’t think we had him fully cranked and see him win like that and quicken away nicely was very impressive.”

Yodel E. A. Who, the Joseph-trained second-place finisher in Mischevious Alex’s stellar return, was claimed for $62,500 out of the race and came back to score an impressive three-length victory in a Feb. 6 optional claiming allowance for trainer Brittany Russell.

Saturday’s $250,000 General George (G3) at Laurel Park had been under consideration, but Mischevious Alex’s connections opted to stay close to home.

“The weather here looks a lot better than there, where there’s snow and cold. We’re going to ship him for his next race. There’s no sense shipping him now and shipping him back,” said Joseph, who listed the April 3 Carter (G1) at Aqueduct as a target race.

Leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr. has the return mount aboard Mischevious Alex, who is scheduled to face six rivals.

Mac Nichol’s Admiral Lynch, who finished second in last year’s renewal of the graded sprint, is scheduled to clash with Mischevious Alex for the second straight race, having finished third in the Joseph trainee’s 2021 debut.

Junior Alvarado has the call aboard the Victor Barboza Jr.-trained 5-year-old son of Super Saver.

William Werner and Team V’s Edgemont Road enters the Gulfstream Park Sprint off an optional claiming allowance victory at Tampa Bay Downs after hopping at the start of the six-furlong sprint. The Eddie Kenneally-trained son of Speightstown previously finished third at Keeneland in the Lafayette, won by Sleepy Eyes Todd, who won the Mr. Prospector (G3) before finishing fourth in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G3) at Gulfstream.

Jose Ortiz is scheduled to ride Edgemont Road for the first time Saturday.

Jacks or Better Farm Inc.’s Shivaree, who finished fourth after setting a pressured pace in the mile Jan. 23 Fred W. Hooper (G3), is crossed entered in the Gulfstream Park Sprint and a race at Tampa Bay Downs.

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s Frosted Grace, a six-furlong optional claiming allowance winner at Gulfstream last time out; Shadybrook Farm Inc.’s Cajun Brother, who captured the Sunshine Sprint at Gulfstream after finishing third behind Frosted Grace; and Daniel Alonso’s Wind of Change, who finished fourth in the Mr. Prospector last time out; round out the field.

1/ST RACING APPOINTS AARON GRYDER AS VICE PRESIDENT, INDUSTRY RELATIONS

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL (February 10, 2021) – 1/ST RACING today announced the appointment of Aaron Gryder as the company’s first Vice President, Industry Relations. Gryder will serve as a key liaison between 1/ST RACING and industry stakeholders to advance health, safety and rider reforms with a particular focus on jockey outreach, and as an ambassador for 1/ST RACING in California, Florida and Maryland to support and advance the company’s mission to further develop its world-class racing operations.

Gryder, based in Florida, will report directly to Aidan Butler, Chief Operating Officer,

1/ST RACING and will be a media spokesperson for the company. He will also act as a primary point of contact for horsemen who are stabled at 1/ST RACING venues.

“We are excited to welcome Aaron to the 1/ST RACING team in this vital new role,” said Aidan Butler, Chief Operating Officer, 1/ST RACING. “Aaron’s depth of experience as a professional jockey and work with industry stakeholders is a perfect connection to ensure our communications and relations between tracks, stakeholders and the public is transparent, detailed and consistent. His extensive knowledge of the racetrack is incredibly valuable as we continue to elevate our safety protocols and promote 1/ST RACING.”

“I am thrilled for the opportunity to work with the forward-thinking team at 1/ST RACING to bring our sport into the future,” said Aaron Gryder, Vice President, Industry Relations, 1/ST RACING. “As a jockey I conducted myself in a manner that displayed my love for the horses and respect for the great sport of horse racing. I will bring the same enthusiasm and work ethic that helped me to be successful throughout my career as a jockey to my new role.”

During a transformative time in horse racing, Gryder worked closely with 1/ST RACING to introduce and implement industry-leading health and safety protocols for horses and riders at Santa Anita Park. During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, he worked alongside Aidan Butler to bring the horse racing community at Santa Anita Park together to form North America’s first sports bubble. This self-contained ecosystem allowed the hundreds of people who work on the backstretch, jockeys and essential racing personnel to keep the horses safe and active while protecting themselves, their livelihoods and the community.

Gryder is a highly respected retired jockey with over 4,000 race wins worldwide to his credit. He has wins in some of Thoroughbred racing’s most prestigious stakes races including, the Dubai World Cup (2009) and the Breeders’ Cup Marathon (2012). In addition to his decades long career as a professional athlete, Gryder has worked as an On-Air Analyst for ESPN, NBC Sports, Fox Sports, the TVG Network and HRTV. He has covered the worldwide broadcast of the Dubai World Cup and the Breeders’ Cup and is widely regarded as an ambassador for the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing.

For more information on 1/ST please visit www.1st.com or @1/STRacing.

About The Stronach Group and 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred horseracing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The company’s consumer facing brand 1/ST (pronounced “First”) powers The Stronach Group’s forward-thinking 1/ST RACING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY, 1/ST LIVE and 1/ST PROPERTIES businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING drives the best-in-class horseracing operations at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, and Gulfstream Park West (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course – home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the newly formed operating group for all of 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, GWS and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is horseracing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST LIVE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality by delivering uniquely curated events such as InfieldFest and Pegasus LIV Stretch Village. 1/ST PROPERTIES is responsible for the development of the company’s live, work and play communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred horseracing on and off the track. For more information please email david.joseph@gulfstreampark.com and visit www.1st.com.