BY BROCK SHERIDAN

A winner of his last race at Churchill Downs, Florida-bred Roll On Big Joe looks for his second graded stakes victory this year in Saturday’s Grade 3 Kelly’s Landing under the twin spires. Trained by Robert Hess Jr. Roll On Big Joe is one of eight 3-year-olds and older who will sprint six-and-a-half furlongs in pursuit of the winner’s share of the $250,000 contest. 

The 5-year-old Roll On Big Joe has been based in Southern California for much of his career, although Hess raced him in his native Florida at Gulfstream Park for three races in 2023 and one start early 2024. An allowance and optional claimer in his first 10 starts, Roll On Big Joe made an impression in his stakes debut when second to future Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1)-winner Straight No Chaser in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2) in September of last year.

Hess then returned him to the optional claiming ranks for his next three starts including a victory against second-level, $80,000 optional claimers going six-and-a-half furlongs at Santa Anita on Jan. 3. He then won the Grade 3 Palos Verdes by four lengths going six furlongs at Santa Anita on Feb. 15 for his first stakes victory.

 

He went to Keeneland for his next race, finishing second to Top Gunner in a high level, $175,000 optional claiming before winning last out under similar conditions at Churchill on May 16 with Julien Leparoux aboard for the first time.

Roll On Big Joe has six wins, six seconds and a third in 17 starts and has earned $374,1209 for Tim Cohen’s Rancho Temescal LLC, White Fence LLC and Richard Hale Jr. Cohen purchased Roll On Big Joe for $90,000 out of Gayle Woods consignment at the 2022 Ocala Breeders’ Sales June Sale of 2-year-olds in training.
(Roll On Big Joe’s Under Tack Video)

He is by Prospective out of Nina’s Gift, by Victory Gallop and was bred in Florida by Max Ubide.

Leparoux gets the return mount and they have post four.

First run in 2010, the Kelly’s Landing has only one previous Florida-bred winner—Thomas D. Shank and Stan Young’s Good Lord in 2014.

Roll On Big Joe will face two familiar rivals in Durante, who was third in the May 16 Churchill Downs race; and Otto the Conqueror, who was third at Keeneland and fifth at Churchill in his only two starts this year.

Owned and trained by David Jacobson, Durante has since won the six-furlong Aristides (G3) at Churchill on May 31. The 6-year-old son of Distorted Humor has won other victory in five starts this year with a length score in a upper level, $62,500 optional claiming at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 14. In two other starts at Oaklawn since, he was fourth in Wendelssohn’s $139,000 Elcipse on March 29 and third behind winner Skelly in the $200,000 Lake Hamilton over a sloppy six furlongs on May 2.

Durante has banked $821,743 in 38 starts with 10 wins, six seconds and five thirds.

Jose Ortiz, who guided him to victory in the Aristides, again rides Durante from the outside post eight.

Otto the Conqueror is trained by Steve Asmussen and looks for his first stakes victory since taking the $300,000 Springboard Mile over a sloppy mile at Remington Park in December of 2023.

Otto the Conqueror has four wins, two seconds and a third in 12 lifetime races and has earned $508,060 for owner Three Chimneys Farm LLC.

The son of Street Sense will be ridden by Flavien Prat from post five.

Also set for the Kelly’s Landing are Dr. Venkman and jockey Antonio Fresu, Three Technique with Rafael Bejarano riding, Booth will have Erik Asmussen up, Reylu Gutierrez will be on Happy is a Choice and Irad Ortiz, Jr. takes the call on Red Flag.

Return to the June 25 issue of Wire to Wire