Barbadian trainer Saffie Joseph Jr was on cloud nine over the weekend following Soul of an Angel’s capture of the US$1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint here at Del Mar Saturday.
The milestone victory for the Florida-based trainer gave him his first-ever Breeders’ Cup success and the five-year-old brown mare’s first grade 1 victory in 41 starts.
Soul of an Angel, a 19-1 longshot ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, seemed an unlikely winner early, falling back to last in the field of nine, 12 lengths off the pace in the seven-furlong contest.
Society and Pleasant dueled through early fractions of :21.94 and :44.22 as Soul of an Angel lagged far back.
On the far turn with a wall of horses vying for the lead, Van Dyke took Soul of an Angel to the outside and hit the top of the stretch six wide.
With clear running, Soul of an Angel wore down the leaders to prevail by a half-length in 1:21.59 over Society, who finished a nose in front of Pleasant.
The 37-year-old Joseph was ecstatic about his first Breeders’ Cup win and described Soul of an Angel as a “hero”.
“It’s a special moment to get our first Breeders’ Cup win, and for connections that have been so loyal to me, C2 Racing, Agavo racing. Just special and for Drayden himself.
“Overall, the horse is the hero, and we’re just part of the process and enjoy the ride. All glory to God. I’m thankful and I’m blessed in that way, just to experience this,” Joseph said.
“It’s something that I grew up as a kid, wanting to win a Breeders’ Cup race and to get it done it means a lot.
“Most definitely, it was a surreal moment, because it’s one of those races where you could enjoy it. She was coming. She was coming. It worked out that she was coming. It was like, ‘go with it, go with it’ and she did. She got there. It’s just a special moment,” he added.
With the victory, Joseph said he would most likely enter her in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on February 22, 2025.
