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Gonzalo Anteliz Jr. / Eclipse Sportswire

Saffie Joseph Jr. is in the midst of his best year yet. His $14 million in earnings tops his previous high of $10.7 million last year. He has 12 graded-stakes wins with seven horses, the first time he’s hit double digits.

“Everything’s going well,” Joseph told Horse Racing Nation on Tuesday. “The team’s worked really hard. We’ve got the right owners and horses, so that makes it possible. … We’ve got around the same kind of number (of horses), but we’ve just got more quality. Quality and depth, depth and quality, which is important.”

Saffie provided updates on 13 of his horses, including six 2-year-olds, for the latest in HRN’s Barn Tour series.

Skippylongstocking. The 5-year-old son of Exaggerator is Joseph’s highest earner, topping $3 million this year, with wins in the Grade 3 Challenger, the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) and the Charles Town Classic (G2). Last out, he was second to Tapit Trice in the Woodward (G2). He’s pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, though the Classic also was a possibility. “He’s doing well,” Joseph said. “He’s going to have one more work this week, and then he ships out on Saturday, he flies to California.” The Dirt Mile, he said, “just felt like it seems like a good spot. It seems like a better spot for him. We just figured last year we were third, behind National Treasure and Cody’s Wish, feel like we look competitive in that spot.”

Soul of an Angel. The 5-year-old Atreides mare has two traded wins this year, the Ruffian (G2) in May and the Princess Rooney (G3) last out. The seven-furlong Princess Rooney was her only start at less than a mile since her 2021 debut. “We cut her back for the first time because she was so impressive in the Ruffian beating Randomized. So we cut her back to seven-eighths. It was a bit of a trial experiment, and it worked out. So it gives us confidence to put her in the Breeders’ Cup (Filly & Mare Sprint), and we feel like she goes there with a very good chance.”

Honor D Lady. The 4-year-old Honor Code filly won the Delaware Handicap in June then returned after a 3-month break to finish fifth in the Spinster. She’s headed to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. “She ran a bit disappointing last time, but that wasn’t unexpected. We had missed the Personal Ensign (G1). She had missed some training. So fitness was a bit of a question mark, a bit below par still. She was very antsy in the paddock, which is not uncustomary for her. She’s going to have a work (Wednesday). And if she works well, we’re going to put her on the plane Thursday to San Diego.”

Batucada. The 4-year-old daughter of Union Rags also is headed to the Distaff after finishing second by a head to Raging Sea last out in the Beldame (G2). “In that race at Aqueduct, just tried to hope I’d pick up a graded-stakes place. And she ran so well that, talking it over with the ownership, they said, ‘Let’s go for it. Let’s go all or nothing.’ So we’re going to give her a chance. It’s a tall task, but you get the right pace scenario, you never know. If she could pick up a placing in a Breeders Cup, it’ll be huge for her resume.”

Spirit Wind. The 5-year-old Bahamian Squall mare won the Honorable Miss (G2) in July and was second last out in the Thoroughbred Club of America (G2). She’s pointed to the Dream Supreme at Churchill Downs on Nov. 9.

White Abarrio. The 5-year-old son of Race Day was returned to Joseph’s barn after losses in the Saudi Cup (G1) and Met Mile (G1) for Rick Dutrow. “He just had his first half yesterday, worked his first half at Gulfstream (four furlongs in 48.64 seconds). We’re going to kind of aim him for a campaign for the Pegasus (World Cup Invitational, G1), Saudi Cup, and working backwards from there. Where we run him next, we haven’t decided yet. We want to work a couple more times before we pencil in the spot.”

Mystic Lake. The 3-year-old Motown filly has a record of 8: 4-2-0 this year, with wins in the Miss Preakness (G3) and Charles Town Oaks (G2). Last out, she was fourth in the Cotillion (G1), her first start past a mile this year. “We tried last time at two turns, it was kind of just like the last 3-year-old race, Grade 1, and that aspect (prompted us) to give it a try. Thought she ran well, obviously behind the champion, Thorpedo Anna. She’s probably better at one turn. And we’re gonna go to La Brea (G1) in California on the 26th of December, give her a little break and go straight to there. … Hopefully we could try to add a Grade 1 to her resume.”

2-year-olds

The Queens M G. This filly by Thousand Words won the Schuylerville and Adirondack (G3) before a fifth-place finish in the Spinaway (G1). “She got scratched last time (in the Frizette, G1). She had blood on her nostril, so they had to scratch her at the gate. She’s going to run in the Tempted next week at Aqueduct, going a mile.”

Andrea. Also by Thousand Words, she won her July debut by 6 1/4 lengths and then took the Hallandale Beach Stakes at Gulfstream by 7 1/4 lengths, leading at every call in both. “She runs on Friday at Keeneland. She’s in the Myrtlewood Stakes. She’s shipping for the first time, so hopefully she’ll ship and run well. She’s progressive, cutting her back a little bit in distance, but we thought this was a good spot in the calendar to see how she gets on.”

Bellavinino. The Get Stormy filly won her debut and was second last out in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies Stakes. She’s entered in the Our Dear Peggy Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday.

Ramsey Pond. The Divisidero filly broke her maiden last out at Kentucky Downs in her third try. She also is entered in the Our Dear Peggy.

Forged Steel. This son of Vekoma broke his maiden in August in his second try then was last of 12 last out in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile Stakes. He’ll switch back to dirt on Sunday in the Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs.

Grayscale. This Frosted colt hasn’t run yet, but he has two four-furlong bullet works at Gulfstream Park. “He’s training very forwardly. He looks pretty quick. He’s going to probably run this month. … We feel like he has above-average talent. So we’re excited to, hopefully, debut this month or if we wait a little longer for the championship meet (at Gulfstream0. We haven’t decided just yet where we’re going to start him off. But he showed promise, like he’s very talented.”