Comedy Town wins the Benny the Bull Aug. 24, 2024, at Gulfstream Park (Coglianese)
David Joseph/Gulfstream Park
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. — When trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. is represented by three entrants in an eight-horse field for Saturday’s $75,000 Sunshine Sprint at Gulfstream Park, including multiple-stakes winner Comedy Town, it’s no laughing matter.
The Joseph-trained trio will clash with five other older horses in the six-furlong sprint for Florida-breds that will co-headline Saturday’s program with the $75,000 Sunshine Turf, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for Florida-bred 4-year-olds and up.
Ten Twenty Racing and Joseph’s Comedy Town has come into his own on dirt in his four most recent starts after earning his keep but failing to win a stakes on turf or Tapeta in his first 24 starts. Following a fourth-place finish on Tapeta in his first start after being claimed for $25,000 in March, he broke through with a front-running two-length victory in a six-furlong optional claiming allowance over a sloppy main track. He came right back to capture his first career stakes with an off-the-pace 1 1/4-length triumph in the six-furlong Smile Sprint, in which 2023 Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) and two-time Mr. Prospector (G3) victor Sibelius finished third.
“He was definitely a surprise on dirt. It was just a trial through error to see if he could do it, and he proved he can do it,” Joseph said. “It was a pleasant surprise, and he took it to another level.”
Comedy Town made it back-to-back stakes wins in the seven-furlong Benny The Bull before sustaining his first loss on dirt in the Oct.4 Phoenix (G2) at Keeneland. He pressed a very fast pace before weakening and finishing third in the six-furlong sprint.
“It was a well-run race with some good horses. It was a creditable effort,” Joseph said.
Comedy Town will be joined in the starting gate by C2 Racing Stable LLC’s Classify and Mesh, both of whom are coming off impressive optional claiming allowance victories at six furlongs.
Classify, who has finished first or second in 10 of 13 career starts while primarily racing on or near the lead, recovered from early bumping to close from eighth to win going away by 2 3/4 lengths Dec. 22.
“Last time, he didn’t break well, and I thought he lost all chance,” Joseph said. “I was very happy with the effort. It was a pleasant surprise. He ran fast by the figures, so we’re giving him a shot here.”
Mish, a stakes-winning 8-year-old gelding, is coming off a dominating 3 1/2-length optional claiming allowance Dec. 15.
Drayden Van Dyke has the return call on Comedy Town. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the call on Classify, while Tyler Gaffalione has the mount on Mish.
Multiple Grade 2 stakes-winner Damon’s Mound will make his first start in a race restricted to Florida-breds while making his first start since Dec. 26, 2023.
Cliff Love and Michele Love’s 5-year-old will also be making his first start for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.
“He’s new to our stable. We’ve been getting him ready for the past year,” Mott said. “I really like him. He’s a neat horse to be around.”
Damon’s Mound, who was trained by Michelle Lovell for his 11 career starts to date, made a name for himself early in his career. The son of Girvin followed up a 12 1/2-length debut victory at Churchill Downs July 2, 2022, with a sharp 3 1/2-length score in the Saratoga Special six weeks later.
The homebred colt went winless in his next five starts before regaining his form with a three-length romp in the Robert Hilton Memorial at Charles Town. Aug. 25, 2023. He came right back to capture the Gallant Bob (G2) by 1 1/4 lengths at Parx and finished second in the Mahoning Valley Sprint. He would head to the sidelines following a fourth-place finish in the Malibu (G1) at Santa Anita.
Junior Alvarado, who rode Damon’s Mound to victory in the Gallant Bob, has the call for the Sunshine Sprint.
Alex and JoAnn Lieblong’s Pure Class is scheduled to seek his second career stakes success in the Sunshine Sprint. The 4-year-old son of The Big Beast finished second in the seven-furlong Marion County Florida Sire Stakes at Tampa Bay last time out. He previously won a six-furlong optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream while coming off a five-month break Nov. 1.
Joe Bravo returns aboard Pure Class for the first time since guiding him to his maiden-breaking victory at Gulfstream in December 2023.
Mad Dog Racing Stable and Joseph Park’s Loco Abarrio, who captured the mile Gil Campbell Memorial two starts back and who finished second behind Comedy Town in the Benny The Bull, is also prominent among Saturday’s leading contenders.
Frank Fletcher Racing Operations Inc.’s Banded Rocket and Arindel’s Gatsby round out the field.
