BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Multiple graded stakes winning Florida-bred Roll On Big Joe has been listed on the Breeders’ Cup website among the contenders for the $2 million Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (Grade 1), a six-furlong test for 3-year-olds and older to be run at Keeneland on October 31.
The 6-year-old gray or roan son of Prospective has not started since finishing second to Cornucopian in the six-furlong Aristides (G3) at Churchill Downs on May 30 but has been working for trainer Bob Hess Jr. at his base at Santa Anita Park.
Saturday morning he went five furlongs in 1:02.60 handily, the 48th fastest of 67 at the distance. It was his fifth breeze in as many weeks since first returning to the work tab at Del Mar on September 9 with a two-furlong move in :26.40.
Roll on Big Joe has earned $981,475 from 10 wins in 25 starts with eight seconds and a third for owners Tim Cohen’s Rancho Temescal of Santa Clarita, California; Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners, White Fence LLC and Richard Hale Jr.
In two races prior to the Aristides this year, Roll On Big Joe won the $150,000 King Cotton (Listed) on February 8 and was second to Florida-bred Mad House in the Grade 3 Count Fleet Handicap on April 11, both going six furlongs at Oaklawn Park.
His graded stakes victories both came last year with a four-length victory in the six-furlong Palos Verdes (G3) at Santa Anita in February and a three-quarters of a length score in the six-and-a-half-furlong Kelly’s Landing (G3) at Churchill Downs in June. Last year he also took the $269,000 Bet On Sunshine (Listed) at Churchill Downs on November 1 and the $150,000 Ring the Bell at Oaklawn on December 13, both at six furlongs.
Roll On Big Joe is out of Nina’s Gift, by Malibu Moon and was bred in Florida by Max Ubide of Ocala.
Six Florida-breds have won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, most recently Bentornato in 2025. Others include Big Drama in 2010, Cherokee Run (1994), Smile (1986), Precisionist (1985) and Eillo won the inaugural edition in 1984.
Return to the October 3 issue of Wire to Wire
