Micah Husbands Returns to Gulfstream a Grade 1 Winner
At 0h02, on April 15, 2026 • By Gulfstream Park
Micah Husbands returned to action and the winner’s circle at Gulfstream Park Sunday as a Grade 1 stakes-winning jockey.
One day earlier, the up-and-coming 23-year-old guided the Gulfstream-based Claret Beret to a 4 ½-length victory in the $1.25 million Apple Blossom (G1) at Oaklawn Park to collect his first top-level stakes success. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained winner of Gulfstream’s Feb. 14 Royal Delta (G3) settled nicely under Husbands before responding when asked with a three-wide sweep to the lead approaching the stretch and drawing clear.
“It was exciting. It was my first Grade 1 win. I’m happy to win for Saffie,” Husbands said before capturing Race 2 on Sunday’s card at Gulfstream with Beauty Bolt ($9.40) and the Race 10 finale aboard General Bradley ($4.60).
Claret Beret also gave Joseph the 1,500th victory of his training career.
Joseph has been a huge supporter of Husbands since the Barbados native arrived at Gulfstream from Woodbine. The nephew of eight-time Sovereign Award winner and Canadian Hall of Fame jockey Patrick Husbands notched his first U.S. win aboard Joseph-trained The Dove Rules Sept. 27, 2024 at Gulfstream. He also rode Joseph-trained Skippylongstocking to a 5 ¼-length victory in the Essex (G3) Handicap at Oaklawn March 21.
