This could be a day to remember for Saffie Joseph, Jr.
The Florida-based trainer has 22 horses in Saturday’s blockbuster 14-race Florida Derby Day program, including three in the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2).
Enjoying great success at Gulfstream Park this season, Joseph sends out The Queens M G, Paradise City, and Early On in a field of seven 3-year-old fillies in the 2025 Kentucky Oaks prep worth 100-50-25-15-10 points to the top five finishers.
In addition, Joseph saddles White Abarrio in the Ghostzapper (G3) and Neoequos in the $1 million Florida Derby (G1), a 200-point 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifier.
While Five G is the 8-5 morning-line favorite in the 1 1/16-mile Oaks, The Queens M G is the second choice at 9-5, Paradise City is 10-1, and Early On is 15-1.
The Queens M G. already with 43.5 Oaks points, comes into the race off a 2 ¾-length win in the 1-mile Davona Dale (G2). She also won the 6 ½-frulong Adirondack (G3) last summer at Saratoga. This will be her first two-turn race.
“Two turns is a question mark, but the way she handled the mile last time was very good. And the way she trains, I don’t think distance should be a problem for her,” Joseph said. “I couldn’t tell you that she goes to the [Kentucky] Oaks. This is like her Oaks; it is to see where we’re at and get an idea. If she were to win, there is a probability that she’d have to go.”
Irad Ortiz, Jr., has the call again, leaving from post 3.
Five G, trained by George Weaver, was a dominant winner here to kick off her 3-year-old campaign, taking the Cash Run by nine lengths on Jan. 1 in her return to dirt after breaking her maiden and then running second last fall on the turf at Aqueduct.
Five G ran a gallant second to Quietside in the 1 1/16-mile Honeybee (G3) at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 23, beaten one length.
“She came out of the 13-hole there, and that’s a tough post to win from, although the horse that won was right inside her,” owner Mike Gatsas said. “We had to go. We had no choice but to go being that wide. We’re hoping that in this race she performs the way she did January 1.”
Five G has 25 Oaks qualifying points. She leaves from post 4 and will be ridden for the first time by Tyler Gaffalione.
Paradise City makes her fourth start during this Gulfstream meet. She was second Five G in the Cash Run, then came back with a six-length optional claiming allowance win going 1 1/16 miles Jan. 30.
“We really liked this filly before she ever ran. The first time out she won,” Joseph said. “The last time we rode her very differently. We took her back and covered her up, which is unusual for a dirt horse. I thought she ran huge. [It was] a big performance, and after that, we just decided to go straight to the Gulfstream Oaks. We feel like she is a very talented filly, and hopefully, she can duplicate that last run.”
Post time for the Gulfstream Park Oaks is 3:31 p.m. ET.
The Picks: 1 The Queens M G 2 Five G 3 Early On
The field for the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), from the rail out, with jockey, trainer, and odds:
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