Joseph Jr. Goes 1-2-3 In Mr. Steele

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Gulfstream Park’s leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. ruled Saturday’s $75,000 Mr. Steele, finishing first, second, and third in the 1 1/16-mile turf event.

Sir David Seale’s Renaisance Frolic beat stablemate Max K. O. by a nose, while Noble Indy, Joseph’s pacesetter, held the show.

Renaisance Frolic, a 6-year-old by Paynter ridden by Edgard Zayas, covered the firm course in 1:40.87.

While Noble Indy set an opening 1/4 in :23.59 and 1/2 in :48.32, Zayas rated Renaisance Frolic along the inside before moving four-wide around the final turn after Caribou Club took a narrow lead into the stretch.

Renaisance Frolic came flying outside of Max K. O. to get up in time. Caribou Club finished fourth and Vow Me Now, who lacked room entering the stretch, was fifth.

A winner of 9 races, Renaisance Frolic, a stakes winner from 2017-2019, was making his second start since finishing second in March in the Appleton (G3). The gelding finished third May 31 to Chuck Willis, the 2/1 favorite in Sunday’s $175,000 Connaught Cup (G2) at Woodbine.

Renaisance Frolic returned $6.20.