Saffie Joseph Jr. and Victor Barboza Jr. finished in a dead heat for the training title for the Sunshine Meet that came to a close Saturday at Gulfstream Park with 33 winners each.
Joseph saddled Mojave Desert ($9.20) for a victory in Race 1, to pull even with Victor Barboza Jr., who entered Saturday’s card with a 32-31 edge. Barboza countered in Race 2 with Grand Daniel ($7). Joseph came back to tie it up in Race 6 with Breezero ($2.60).
Joseph has won eight consecutive training titles at Gulfstream Park, including the last two Championship Meet crowns.
Jose D’Angelo, who had been in the thick of a three-way battle for the training title, finished third with 30 winners.
Unlike Joseph and Barboza, Edgard Zayas held a commanding lead throughout the Sunshine Meet that started Sept. 9. The 30-year-old Puerto Rico native, who rides first-call for Joseph, finished the meet with 59 wins, 21 more than runner-up Miguel Vasquez.
“It’s been great. I’ve been getting support from all the owners and trainers,” Zayas said after riding Breezero to a six-length maiden victory in Race 6. “I’m so happy to be healthy.”
Zayas is looking forward to the Championship Meet that gets underway next Friday and runs through March 31.
“My agent (Tito Fuentes) always told me this is the most important meet of the whole [offseason], because you’ve got to go into the Championship on a roll,” said Zayas, who rode a pair of winners on the closing day program, “This is an important meet going into the Championship Meet.”
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