BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-bred Roll On Big Joe, who was second to Straight No Chaser in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship in September, returns to stakes action Saturday at Santa Anita in the Grade 3 Palos Verdes. Trained by Robert Hess Jr., Roll On Big Joe is among six 4-year-olds and older who will go six furlongs in the $100,000 Palos Verdes.
Since the Santa Anita Sprint Championship, winner Straight No Chaser won the Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Del Mar in his next out on Nov. 1 while Roll On Big Joe has had three resourceful starts against upper-level optional claiming sprinters in Southern California.
He was third, two lengths behind winner Manitowish, in an $80,000 optional claiming going six-and-a-half furlongs at Santa Anita on Oct. 27 then second to Fort Bragg in a $100,000 optional claiming test at six furlongs on Dec. 1 at Del Mar. The 5-year-old gelded son of Prospective enters the Palos Verdes off a three-quarters of a length victory in a second condition, $80,000 optional claiming at six-and-a-half panels at Santa Anita on Jan. 3, defeating Palos Verdes rival For All Mankind in second.
Roll On Big Joe will race in the red colors of Rancho Temescal LLC, White Fence LLC and Richard Hale Jr. while trying to improve on his productive record of four wins, five seconds and a third in 14 starts. Out of Nina’s Gift, by Victory Gallop and bred in Florida by Max Ubide, Roll on Big Joe sports career earnings of $238,580.
Rancho Temescal purchased Roll On Big Joe for $90,000 out of the 2022 Ocala Breeders’ Sales June Sale where he was consigned by Gayle Woods.
(Roll On Big Joe’s Under Tack Video)
Roll On Big Joe again has the riding services of Umberto Rispoli and they break from post three. Roll On Big Joe is 5-1 on the morning line.
Big City Lights is the defending champion in the Palos Verdes but steps up in class after winning his last two against state-bred stakes horses.
The 6-year-old Big City Lights won the $98,000 Cary Grant going seven furlongs at Del Mar in November before taking the $122,000 California Cup Sprint going six furlongs at Santa Anita most recently on Jan. 18.
Trainer Richard Mandella has put plenty of time between starts for Big City Lights over the last year as his only other two starts since the 2024 Palos Verdes are two third place finishes in the Grade 2 Triple Bend at Santa Anita in June and in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien in August.
Regardless, Big City Lights is the 2-5 morning line favorite and will have Juan Hernandez up when he departs from post one.
Rounding out the field are Anarchist with Edwin Maldonado aboard, Tyler Baze will ride Bartholdy, Mbagnick (Chi) will have jockey Kent Desormeaux and For All Man Kind has Antonio Fresu taking the call.
Return to the February 14 issue of Wire to Wire
