It came down to Sunday's closing day program, but Saffie Joseph Jr. edged Jose D'Angelo with a three-win day to earn leading trainer honors for the 13th consecutive race meeting at Gulfstream Park.
Joseph, a 38-year-old native of Barbados, entered Sunday with a one-win lead, 55-54, clinching the title with 4-5 favorite Drama ($3.80) in Race 3 following a victory with Genuine Gomo ($4.40) in the opener. Dandona, a $1.05 million OBS April purchase, gave Joseph his third winner on the day with a victory in Race 10. Joseph finished with 58 winners and more than $1.9 million in purse earnings during the five-month Royal Palm Meet, which began April 3. D'Angelo added one to his win total in Race 9 with Sigan Viendo ($12.80).
It was the 14th multi-win day of the meet for Joseph, including hat tricks May 31, June 1, and June 28. His streak began in 2021 with the Royal Palm Meet, which he has now won five straight years. Joseph will attempt to match that feat during the Sunshine Meet, set to open Sept. 5.
Joseph's streak also includes four consecutive titles at Gulfstream's Championship Meet.
Ken Ramsey finished as leading owner at the Royal Palm Meet with 13 wins, two more than Jose Castro's JC Racing Stable and Dennis Amaty's Amaty Racing Stables. Castro won his first career stakes with Lightning Tones in Saturday's $70,000 Black Diamond Cat overnight handicap.
Gulfstream's 36-day Sunshine Meet opens with a nine-race program Friday, Sept. 5. Post time is 12:50 p.m. The Sunshine Meet stakes schedule will be kicked off Saturday by the first leg of the 2025 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series for 2-year-olds sired by accredited Florida stallions. The $100,000 Dr. Fager and the $100,000 Desert Vixen for fillies will co-headline Saturday's 11-race program.
The $200,000 Princess Rooney (G3), a 'Breeders' Cup Win and You're In' stakes that awards the winner a fees-paid berth in the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) Nov.1 at Del Mar, will be renewed Sept. 20. Last year's winner of the seven-furlong stakes for fillies and mares was won by Joseph-trained Soul of an Angel, who went on to capture the Filly & Mare Sprint at Del Mar.
