BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Florida-bred Roll On Big Joe was assigned a 5 Ragozin Number by The Sheets for his victory in the $150,000 Ring The Bell Stakes at Churchill Downs on Dec. 13, ranking the performance tops among stakes winners for the week using that metric.

With Julien Leparoux riding, the 5-year-old Florida-bred gelding went to the front approaching the half-mile pole in the six-furlong Ring The Bell then drew off in the stretch to win by a length-and-a-half ahead of Banishing in second with Tejano Twist Third. The final time was 1:09.54 on the fast track.

Roll On Big Joe has now won six of nine starts this year including victories in the Grade 3 Palos Verdes at Santa Anita, and the Grade 3 Kellys Landing and $269,000 Bet On Sunshine, both at Churchill Downs.

Roll On Big Joe is by Prospective out of Nina’s Gift, by Victory Gallop and was bred in Florida by Max Ubide. He is owned by Rancho Temescal LLC, Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partnerships, White Fence LLC and Richard Hale Jr.

He has has earned $751,925 in his career and $551,145 this year.

Rancho Temescal bought Roll On Big Joe at the 2022 Ocala Breeders’ Sales June Sale of 2-year-olds in training and horses of racing age where he was consigned by Gayle Woods.

Return to the December 18 issue of Wire to Wire