Roll On Big Joe scored a dominant four-length victory in the $100,000 Palos Verdes Stakes (G3) Feb. 15 at Santa Anita Park to notch his first graded stakes win.
The 5-year-old Prospective gelding, owned by Rancho Temescal, White Fence, and Richard Hale Jr., broke sharply and took command inside of For All Mankind through a first quarter in :22.40.
Roll On Big Joe turned up the pressure in the second quarter, hitting the half-mile mark in :44.16 with a one-length lead. He increased his advantage through the lane, stopping the timer for six furlongs in 1:08.60.
“He broke sharp like he does always and the key with him is you don’t fight him, because once you fight with him, he gets upset. He likes to drift out,” said winning rider Umberto Rispoli, who was on board for the fifth consecutive start. “But today he was really relaxed for me. At the three-eighths pole he pointed his ears, and I said, ‘Okay, we look in good shape.'”
For All Mankind finished second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Bartholdy .
Robert B. Hess Jr. trained the winner, who won for the fifth time in 15 starts and improved his earnings to $298,580. Bred by Max Ubide in Florida, Roll On Big Joe was purchased by Rancho Temescal for $90,000 at the 2022 Ocala Breeders’ Sales June 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale from Gayle Woods’ consignment.
The original field of six was lowered to five with the scratch of 2024 Palos Verdes winner and heavy morning-line favorite Big City Lights .
Video: Palos Verdes S. (G3)
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