BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-bred Roll On Big Joe reeled in his third straight stakes victory and second consecutive black-type score at Oaklawn Park Sunday with a half-length triumph in the $150,000 King Cotton for 4-year-olds and older at six furlongs. In a field reduced to five starters after four scratches, Roll On Big Joe won as the 7-10 favorite with Julien Leparoux in the saddle.
Making his first start since a length-and-a-quarter tally in the $150,000 Ring the Bell Stakes at Oaklawn on December 13, Roll On Big Joe broke third in the King Cotton as Commodore Stakes-winner Bourbon Bash and Thanksgiving Classic champion Wendelssohn went to the front to his inside. Roll On Big Joe joined the two front-runners after a :22.40 first quarter mile as Tejano Twist, winner of the 2025 King Cotton, raced five lengths back in fourth. Wendelssohn took a half-length lead around the turn as Roll On Big Joe stayed close in the three-path before taking a short advantage turning for home after a :45.70 half mile. Roll On Big Joe put away Wendelssohn and Bourbon Bash when Tejano Twist appeared on the outside with a rush a furlong out. Tejano Twist tried to muster a challenge but Roll On Big Joe remained resolute, winning in 1:09.44 on the fast track. Tejano Twist was a length-and-a-half faster than third-place finisher Wendelssohn, followed by Bourbon Bash and Lips Say Bliss. Durante, Frost Free, Gold Sweep and Tough Catch were scratched.
“Razor sharp. Actually, he broke a step slower than usually he does. Nothing bad, just kind of not standing properly. He’s a pro,” Leparoux said of Roll On Big Joe. “He does whatever you want him to. Just wanted to make sure there was a good enough pace in front, so I pushed him a little bit early on. But then he sat right back and had a nice run at the end.”
Trainer Bob Hess Jr. said he was particularly impressed with the determined 6-year-old who missed several days of training because the Oaklawn track was closed due to weather from January 24 through February 1.
“Big heart. He broke, maybe, a little awkwardly and maybe wasn’t as keen today. Could have been the layoff and no works for, like, almost 20 days, but he’s got heart,” Hess said. “I might need to give him a little extra time for his next race, but we’ll try to make the Count Fleet.”
Oaklawn’s stakes series for older sprinters continues on March 14 with the $250,000 Whitmore (G3) and the $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) on April 11.
Roll On Big Joe paid $3.40 to win and earned $90,000 for owners Tim Cohen and his Rancho Temescal, Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners, White Fence and Richard Hale Jr.
He also picked up $4,000 in Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Export Incentives for breeder Max Ubide.
“What a nice blessing. That money is a big plus,” Ubide said of the Florida-bred export incentive.
In addition to the Ring The Bell, last year Roll On Big Joe won Grade 3 Palos Verdes at Santa Anita Park in February, the Grade 3 Kelly’s Landing in June at Churchill Downs and the $269,000 Bet On Sunshine in November, also at Churchill.
Roll On Big Joe has now earned $841,925 from 10 wins in 23 career starts with six seconds and a third.
“It’s awesome. Joe’s doing a great job,” Cohen said. “Bob [Hess Jr.], Julien [Leparoux], it’s a great team. Of course, the horse, he’s awesome. We’ll give him a little bit of a break and hopefully be here in April.”
Cohen paid $90,000 for Roll On Big Joe at the 2022 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale where he was consigned by Gayle Woods.
He is by Prospective out of the winning Victory Gallop mare Nina’s Gift, who raced for Nina Ubide and was trained by Max Ubide. Nina’s Gift has produced five starters, all winners, from six foals. Max Ubide said he and his wife, who had previously worked for consignor Eddie Woods, purchased Nina’s Gift privately as a 2-year-old.
“My wife was an assistant for Eddie Woods and [the previous owners] had put [Nina’s Gift] in the [2006 OBS] March Sale. She came up with a little bit of a problem and they didn’t want to mess with her, so that’s how we got her. So, I named her after my wife, Nina’s Gift.”
Return to the February 10 issue of Wire to Wire
