Batucada surges to victory in the Powder Break June 22 at Gulfstream Park (Coglianese)
David Joseph/Gulfstream Park
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla.— Despite sporting a lackluster racing record, Batucada caught trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.’s attention when the 4-year-old daughter of Union Rags was up for sale during the Championship Meet at Gulfstream Park. It was nothing that she had done on the racetrack that piqued his interest. Joseph was more interested in her family ties.
Batucada, who scored a flashy 6 ¼-length victory in Saturday’s Powder Break at Gulfstream, is out of Lady Pamela, a daughter of Tapit who is also the dam of Candy Gray, a 3-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy who was coming off a nine-length debut score for Joseph and Gentry Farms.
“We bought her privately because we had a half sister, Candy Gray, who we think is a really good filly who hasn’t shown it just yet,” said Joseph, whose high hopes for Batucada’s half sister has yet to realized in two starts this year. “We bought her because we hoped Candy Gray would win a graded-stakes for us.”
Batucada, who had won an optional claiming allowance by eight lengths prior to her Powder Break score, is turning out to be a wise investment as a racehorse and broodmare prospect for Shining Stables LLC.
“He’s owned by my wife. Rocco, my son, designed the silks. That’s his stable name, so it was cool,” said Joseph, whose 9-year-old son regularly visits the Gulfstream winner’s circle wearing jockey silks and gear. “So, he has a stakes winner already.”
Batucada finished off the board in her first three starts for Joseph before breaking through in the May 31 optional claiming allowance.
Batucada was entered in Saturday’s $100,000 Musical Romance but will not run after producing such a stellar performance a week earlier in the Powder Break.
