Joe displayed tenacity and class at Laurel Park on Saturday when beating back stablemate Mr Jefferson’s strong stretch challenge in the $125,000 Federico Tesio for 3-year-olds.
The 1 1/8-mile Tesio was one of four stakes, along with the Weber City Miss, for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles, the Heavenly Cause at one mile for fillies and mares, and the Frank Y. Whiteley for 3-year-olds and up at seven furlongs.
Favored Joe ($4.80) prompted a reasonable but pressured pace (24.94, 49.63 seconds) under jockey Victor Carrasco while in between rail-skimming Vine Jet and a three-wide Secret Alliance.
Vine Jet faded on the second turn. That left Joe and Secret Alliance to complete six furlongs in 1:14.58 with Smarten Up looming outside of them in third. Joe cut the corner turning for home, put away Secret Alliance and Smarten Up, then braced for Mr Jefferson’s late bid.
Mr Jefferson had all the momentum and might have poked a head in front, but Joe wasn’t down for the count. Characteristically late to change leads, he dug in along the rail and fought on to prevail by a head in 1:52.30.
Mr Jefferson was five lengths clear of Shake Em Loose in third. Then came Smarten Up, Secret Alliance, South Street, Noneedtoworry, Baltimore Bulleit and Vine Jet.
Joe finished fifth in his career debut traveling 5 1/2 furlongs on turf at Laurel on Oct. 24, then reeled off three consecutive victories including the Maryland Juvenile Championship.
Joe won his 3-year-old debut, a first-level allowance with a $62,500 claiming option, on Jan. 23, then finished second to Shake Em Loose in the Private Terms Stakes on March 19.
The Tesio offers a guaranteed berth into the Preakness Stakes, but Joe isn’t currently nominated to the Triple Crown series. He can become eligible to compete with a supplemental nomination payment of $150,000 at entry time.
Joe was bred in Maryland by his owner, Stuart Grant’s The Elkstone Group. He is by Declaration of War out of Battle Bridge (by Arch) and is a half-brother to Grade 3-placed turf router Irony of Reality.
When asked in a post-race telephone interview whether Joe would be considered for the Preakness, trainer Michael Trombetta responded affirmatively. “Sure, there’s a chance. We’ll see how he comes out of this thing, and we’ll be having some conversations with Stuart next week.”
