Joseph Sends Trio To Martha Washington

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. will triple up for Saturday’s $75,000 Martha Washington at Gulfstream Park in a quest to gain stakes credentials for e Five Racing Thoroughbreds’ Tik Tok Famous and Hana Lima, as well as Peachtree Stable’s Champagne Ivy.

The Martha Washington, a mile turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies carded as Race 11, will headline a 12-race program that will also feature the long-awaited return of 2020 Triple Crown competitor Sole Volante in a Race 10 optional claiming allowance.

Both Tik Tok Famous and Hana Lima are coming off dominating maiden scores at Gulfstream, while Champagne Ivy is still looking for her first career win after finishing in the money in all 6 starts.

“These are well-bred fillies. If you can get a stakes win, it helps them as a broodmare, even it you get a stakes-placing. It’s a good opportunity,” Joseph said. “We could have taken a more cautious route and gone into an allowance, but if you don’t take a chance, you never gain. This is an opportunity to win a stake with them or get them a stakes-placing.”

Tik Tok Famous, who finished third in her only start last year, came off a layoff of nearly a year to romp to a 4 1/2-length front-running score in a May 31 7 1/2-furlong maiden race on turf.

“She had that layoff, and since that layoff, she trained extremely well. We were hopeful that she would run well off the layoff because of how well she trained,” Joseph said. “It’s a bit quick back after her first race off a layoff, but it’s a good opportunity to win a stake with her or get black type with a placing. She’s trained as good as she did before her last race.”

Tik Tok Famous, an English-bred daughter of Belardo, was purchased for $141,132 at the 2019 Tattersalls October yearling sale, the same Newmarket, Great Britain sale where Hana Lima, an English-bred daughter of Iffraaj, was bought for $192,453.

Hana Lima graduated in a mile maiden special weight on turf April 25 at Gulfstream, settling off the early pace before sweeping to the lead on the turn into the homestretch and drawing off to win by 4 lengths.

“Going into the first race, we had never worked her on the grass. She worked well enough on the dirt, so we didn’t see a reason to work her on grass. We were optimistic that when she got on the grass, she would look even better,” Joseph said. “The first start out, she was visually impressive. Obviously, this time out she is going to step out against winners and face better competition, but she is eligible to improve.”

Champagne Ivy, a daughter of Shackleford who has finished second 3 times and third 3 times, will meet some familiar faces in the Martha Washington in her pursuit of her first career win.

“She’s maiden still. She’s run well but has failed to deliver so far. She has a couple of form lines with horses in the same race – ones that beat her and ones that she’s beat and come back to beat her,” Joseph said. “We talked with John Fort, owner of the Peachtree Stables, and he said, ‘Why not? Why not give her a chance?’ If she runs second or third, it’s a stakes placing. It’s not impossible for her to win. She could win the race if she brings her A-game. She’s a filly that has trained so well, it’s surprising that she hasn’t won a race yet.”

Emisael Jaramillo has the return mount aboard Tik Tok Famous, while Edgard Zayas has the call on Hana Lima. J C. Diaz Jr. is slated to ride Champagne Ivy for the first time.

Chad Schumer and Stephen Screnci’s Karakatsie, who finished second behind multiple graded stakes winner Con Lima in the May 1 Honey Ryder at Gulfstream, has been installed as the 5/2 morning line favorite, ahead of Tik Tok Famous (3/1) and Hana Lima (9/2).

Armando De La Cerda-trained Karakatsie won at first asking in December before finishing off the board in the Ginger Brew, won by Con Lima, and third in an optional claiming allowance. Following a 3-month freshening, the daughter of Karakontie closely tracked Con Lima in the Honey Ryder but was unable to mount a serious challenge to the Todd Pletcher trainee.

Edwin Gonzalez, who had ridden Hana Lima in her maiden score, has opted to stick with Karakatsie for the Martha Washington.

Rounding out the main body of the field:

• Donald R. Dizney LLC’s Lady Emily, a Michael Maker-trained daughter of First Dude who romped to a 5 1/2-length debut victory May 29;
• Cheyenne Stables LLC’s Charges Dropped, a Bobby DiBona-trained daughter of Lemon Drop Kid who graduated in her third career start last time out;
• R A Hill Stable and Gatsas Stables’ Vintage Style, a George Weaver-trained maiden who finished second behind Tik Tok Famous last time out;
• Raging Bull Stables Inc.’s Smart Spending, a Victor Barboza Jr.-trained daughter of Flintshire who most recently captured a starter allowance; and
• Starship Stables and trainer Stephen Dwoskin’s Starship Nterprise, who broke her maiden in a $50,000 claiming race after main close calls in maiden special weight races.

Jack Carmody and Barry Kirkham’s Streaking Grey is on the Also Eligible list. Trainer Daniel Pita’s Princess Secret is a Main Track Only entrant.