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Florida Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. Bidding to Win Breeders’ Cup Classic This Year

By  //  September 6, 2022

Saffie Joseph Jr goes into this year’s Breeders’ Cup Championship with a runner in the feature race of the meeting, the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He is set to saddle White Abarrio as he bids to win the contest for the first time in his career.

White Abarrio emerged as a Breeders’ Cup Classic contender when he prevailed in the Florida Derby back in April. He stayed on strongly in the Grade One race to score by just under two lengths.

The three-year-old will be taking on the second-highest rated horse in the world at the meeting at Keeneland in November. Flightline is the -150 favorite in the horse racing betting to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

On his last start on the track, Flightline was very impressive in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar, prevailing by just over 19 lengths. He is likely to be one of the popular racing tips from Paddy Power for the world championship meeting.

Four Wins from Eight Starts So Far

Joseph’s colt has an excellent record in his career to date. He has been successful on four of his eight starts. After scoring on his debut in emphatic style, he moved from Carlos Luis Perez’s barn to his current trainer.

On his final outing as a two-year-old, White Abarrio finished a close third in the Grade Two Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs. That performance left his connections with a lot of confidence heading into his Classic year.

The son of Race Day made an early seasonal reappearance in the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park, coming out on top by four lengths in the race. He then returned to the same venue to land the Florida Derby.

Joseph opted to take a chance with their horse in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, but unlike a lot of leading contenders for the US Triple Crown event, he never got into it. Rich Strike caused a huge upset at odds of +8100.

Barbados-Born Trainer Continues Family’s Success in the Sport

What a finish to the Pennsylvania Derby!

MATH WIZARD WINS IT! #WinAndYoureIN @BreedersCup pic.twitter.com/xGlJ6EMOUn

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) September 21, 2019

The leading Gulfstream Park trainer is the third generation of his family who has held a horse training license. His first major success in the sport came in the Pennsylvania Derby in 2019 when Math Wizard landed the $1 million contest.

Before moving to Florida in 2011, Joseph had some success in his native Barbados. He won the Triple Crown over there with Areyoutalkintome in 2009. The horse became the sixth in history to land the three races. He now stands in Joseph’s farm as a stallion and could be set to produce some champions of the future.

Although his father no longer trains horses, Saffie Joseph Sr can offer support to his son at his barn. That experience has helped the horseman progress in the sport in the USA.

Joseph will be doing all he can from now until the start of the Breeders’ Cup Championship to ensure White Abarrio arrives at Keeneland in the best shape possible. He will then be hoping his horse gives a good account of himself in the biggest race of the year in North America.