Jeeker Joe breaks his maiden after sizzling morning trial

Jeeker Joe provided another breeders’ award for the highly successful quartet of Ed Seltzer, Beverly Anderson and Joe and Helen Barbazon, winning a one-mile turf race at Gulfstream Park yesterday under a patient ride by Tyler Gaffalione.

Jeeker Joe had been idle since last August, but showed he was ready for his return with a five-furlong work of :59.40 at the Palm Meadows training facility in March. Based on that trial, the 4-year-old gelding went off at 6/5 and was more than up to the task. Gaffalione settled him into fifth place down the backstretch, made a wide move on the turn, and ran down the leaders in early stretch, scoring by a length in 1:36.99.

While breaking his maiden in his eighth try, Jeeker Joe earned a check for $10,400 and gave Treasure Beach his 11th winner of 2020.