Blue Grass or Haskell likely next for Ny Traffic

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has some key decisions to make regarding the future itineraries of his Kentucky Derby-bound 3-year-old Ny Traffic and Kentucky Oaks-bound 3-year-old filly Tonalist’s Shape, with the pair sharing top billing on Sunday’s work tab at Gulfstream Park.

Ny Traffic breezed a very easy three furlongs in 37.50 seconds while working for the first time since his second-place finish behind Maxfield in the Matt Winn at Churchill Downs three weeks earlier. Ny Traffic, who ranks seventh on the qualifying list with 70 Kentucky Derby points, recently returned to Joseph’s barn at Gulfstream Park after being quarantined on the farm in Ocala, Fla., following his trip for the Matt Winn.

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Joseph said either the July 18 Haskell at Monmouth or July 11 Blue Grass at Keeneland is likely to be Ny Traffic’s next start, although the July 8 Indiana Derby at Indiana Grand and June 27 Ohio Derby are still possible for him. The Kentucky Derby is on Sept. 5.

“We’re confident we have enough points, we just want to give him one more start that will set him up to have the best chance to win the Derby,” Joseph said. “He just keeps getting better and better, and if he can make one more jump forward from a numbers standpoint, he can be right there.”

Joseph said he plans to pick up the pace in the morning with Ny Traffic next week.

“This one was just to let him stretch his legs,” Joseph said of Sunday’s work. “We gave him an easy three-eighths to start him back before his last race as well. The key now is to keep him sound and healthy. We might not have the best horse in the crop. We just need him to be the best on the day.”

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Tonalist’s Shape came out a couple of sets later following the second renovation break and looked very sharp breezing four furlongs in 46.78 while given a target to run at and while going easily well off the rail down the stretch.

“She’s never been the best work horse, but her last two works have been really, really good,” Joseph said. “She’s finishing a lot stronger. Although, we are most likely going to pass the Acorn with Tonalist’s Shape Saturday at Belmont because the traveling arrangements are very difficult.”

Tonalist’s Shape is likely to run next in the Ashland on July 11 at Keeneland or the Delaware Oaks on July 4, Joseph said.

Tonalist’s Shape has won 6 of 7 career outings, including the Grade 2 Davona Dale and Grade 3 Forward Gal at Gulfstream. She is sixth on the list with 60 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points.

Joseph recently moved 50 horses to Palm Meadows. He also has strings at Gulfstream Park and Gulfstream Park West and said he’s planning to take a dozen or so horses to Saratoga for the summer.