CALIFORNIA, USA (CMC) — Barbados coach Saffie Joseph Jr was on cloud nine over the weekend Soul of an angelwon the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint here at Del Mar on Saturday.

The landmark victory for the Florida-based trainer gave him his first-ever Breeders’ Cup success and the five-year-old brown mare’s first Grade 1 victory in 41 starts.

Soul of an angela 19-1 longshot ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, looked an unlikely winner early on, falling to last in the field of nine, 12 lengths off the pace in the seven-furlong competition.

Company And Pleasant fought in the first fractions of :21.94 and :44.22 while Soul of an angelI was very late.

On the far turn, facing a wall of horses fighting for the lead, Van Dyke took Soul of an angel outward and reached the top of the six-wide stretch.

With a clear run, Soul of an angel exhausted the leaders to win by half a length in 1:21.59 on Company, who finished a nose in front Pleasant.

Joseph, 37, was delighted with his first Breeders’ Cup victory and described
Soul of an angel like a “hero”.

“It’s a special moment to achieve our first victory in the Breeders’ Cup, and for relationships that are so loyal to me, C2 Racing, Agavo racing. Just special and for Drayden himself.

“Overall, the horse is the hero, and we are just part of the process and enjoying the ride. All glory to God. I’m grateful and I’m blessed in that way, just to experience this,” Joseph said.

“It’s something I grew up with as a kid, wanting to win a Breeders’ Cup race and to do that, it means a lot.

“It was definitely a surreal moment, because it’s one of those races where you can enjoy it. She was coming. She was coming. It turned out she was coming. It was like “go ahead, go ahead” and she did it. She got there. It’s just a special moment,” he added.

With this victory, Joseph said he would most likely enter him into the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on February 22, 2025.