BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Roll On Big Joe, winner of the Grade 3 Palos Verdes at Santa Anita in February, won for the third time in his last four starts Friday, taking a top condition, $175,000 optional claiming at Churchill Downs. Trained by Robert Hess Jr. for Rancho Temescal LLC, White Fence LLC and Richard Hale Jr., Roll On Big Joe took the winner’s share of the $115,630 purse while defeating six other 3-year-olds and older going six-and-a-half furlongs.

Ridden for the first time by Julien Leparoux, Roll On Big Joe avenged a loss to Top Gunner last time when second in an upper level, $175,000 optional claiming going six furlongs at Keeneland on April 13, his only race since taking the Palos Verdes.

Top Gunner was no threat Friday as Roll On Big Joe vied for the lead to the outside of Otto the Conqueror through a quarter mile in :22.76. He went to the front in the turn while three-wide then drew off in the stretch under mild urging to win by a length-and-a-quarter in 1:15.64 on the good track. Caramel Chip was second, a length-and-a-quarter ahead of Durante in third. Gold Luck, Otto the Conqueror, Tejano Twist and Top Gunner completed the order of finish.

Roll On Big Joe paid $10.90 to win.

The 5-year-old gelding has now won three of four races this year after taking a second condition, $80,000 optional claiming at Santa Anita on Jan. 3 before winning the Palos Verdes. He earned $55,540 Friday to push his lifetime bankroll to $374,120 from six wins, six seconds and a third from 17 starts.

Roll On Big Joe is by Perspective out of Nina’s Gift, by Victory Gallop and was bred in Florida by Max Ubide. He was purchased by Rancho Temescal for $90,000 out of the Gayle Woods consignment at the 2022 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company June Sale of 2-year-olds and horses of racing age.
(Roll On Big Joe’s Under Tack Video)

Return to the May 16 issue of Wire to Wire