Joseph Has Strength in Numbers for Friday’s Rampart

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Defending three-time Championship Meet training titlist Saffie Joseph Jr. will have strength in numbers for Friday’s $125,000 Rampart, for which he is scheduled to saddle three of the nine fillies and mares entered in the one-turn mile stakes.

Dazzling Move, Claret Beret and Luvumorgan will represent Joseph and Miller Racing LLC in the one-turn mile stakes for fillies and mares.

Dazzling Move will be coming off a layoff of nearly three months Friday after competing in graded stakes in seven of her eight starts since joining Joseph’s stable. The 4-year-old daughter of Not This Time captured the 1 1/16-mile Royal Delta at Gulfstream in her first start for her connections Feb. 15 directly following a fourth-place finish in last season’s Rampart. She went on to become Grade 1-placed in the Ogden Phipps at Saratoga, where he would finish second in the Shuvee (G2) in her next outing.

Dazzling Move has run 1 1/8 miles in her last five races, including a distant third-place finish Sept. 28 in the Delaware Handicap (G3).

“I think one turn mile is probably best for her although she’s run well two turns,” Joseph said. “She is giving up fitness. We gave her a break. I don’t know if I have her fit enough. That would be a question mark.”

Hall of Famer John Velazquez will ride Dazzling Move for the first time in the Rampart for which she is rated fourth at 5-1 behind Brendan Walsh--trained One Magic Philly, the 2-1 morning-line favorite.

“I think Brendan’s filly is a deserving favorite,” Joseph said. “But our filly at her best could win.”

Claret Beret captured the May 11 Mo Green Handicap at Gulfstream Park by 19 ¾ lengths in her first start for Miller Racing LLC and Joseph in the one-turn mile event. Also a 4-year-old daughter of Not This Time, she went on to finish second in the seven-furlong Chicago (G2) at Churchill Downs in her next start. She enters the Rampart off a pair of off-the-board finishes in the Ballerina (G1) at Saratoga and the Princess Rooney (G3) at Gulfstream.

“She’s been disappointing the last couple times, but the one-turn mile is her best,” Joseph said. “She’s never flashy training, but I think she’s training well. Hopefully, she regroups. If she runs her best, nothing beats her.

Micah Husbands, who was aboard in the Chicago, has the call on Claret Beret, who is rated third at 9-2 on the morning line.

Shining Stable LLC, Steven Friedfertig and Miller Racing LLC’s Luvumorgan brings considerably less experience into the Rampart. The 3-year-old daughter of Union Rags earned stakes credentials in the 6 ½-furlong Game Face at Gulfstream in May after breaking her maiden at 1 1/16-miles in her second career start. She went on to finish fourth in the Azalea and off the board in the Charles Town Oaks (G2) before going on a break.

“She’s doing OK. We’re just giving her a chance. There aren’t many allowance options going a mile,” Joseph said.

Edgard Zayas has the call on Luvumorgan.

John Gallegos’ One Magic Philly enters the Rampart off a second-place finish in the Nov. 15 Chilukki (G3) at Churchill Downs in a one-turn mile event. In her previous start, the 4-year-old daughter of Good Magic won a 6 ½-furlong optional claiming allowance at Keeneland in her first start for Walsh. She was a Grade 3 winner on the West Coast during her 3-year-old season.

Tyler Gaffalione has the return mount on The Magic Philly.

Bell Tower Thoroughbreds and Medallion Racing’s Grand Job, who finished a close second behind Dazzling Move in the Royal Delta before winning a one-turn mile optional claiming allowance last season before going to the sidelines for eight months, will seek to improve on a tiring eighth in an optional claiming allowance at Churchill Downs in his Nov. 27 comeback race.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott named Junior Alvarado to ride the 4-year-old son of Triple Crown champion Justify, who is rated second at 7-2 on the morning line.

Tranquility Lake Farms LLC’s Necessity is scheduled to make her first start for trainer Riley Mott Saturday coming off a four-length victory in a one-turn mile allowance at Churchill Downs.

Irad Ortiz Jr. has the call on the 3-year-old daughter of Constitution.

Mark T. Anderson’s Sterling Silver, formerly trained by Bill Mott, is slated to make her first start for trainer Anthony Margotta off a victory in the Iroquois, a 6 ½-furlong stakes for New York-breds Oct. 25 at Aqueduct.

Hall of Famer Javier Castellano has the mount on the 6-year-old daughter of Cupid.

JC Racing Stable’s Gullfaxi and Holly Crest Farm’s Riding Pretty round out the field.