Joseph trying to decide whether to push on with Chance It

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – An odyssey that started here for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. when Chance It drew post 12 for the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth ended in disappointment 10 days later at Tampa Bay Downs after the Kentucky Derby candidate finished fifth, 8 1/2 lengths behind runaway winner King Guillermo, in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby.

On Monday, Joseph was still looking for answers and uncertain of what his immediate plans would be for the son of Currency Swap, who looked so good winning the one-mile Mucho Macho Man earlier in the meet and who had trained so brilliantly prior to his most recent start.

“Preliminary, it looks like he came back fine, but there are still a lot of questions to answer and we probably won’t make any decisions on what to do next with him for another 10 to 12 days,” said Joseph. “Was it the distance? Was it something physical? He scoped clean after the race, but did he bleed? Was it the track surface? Was he outclassed? To that, I’d say no for sure. Naturally I’m disappointed, but I don’t doubt his abilities still. I know we have a really good horse. We’re going to go over him completely this week and try to get some answers, but the process is going to take a week or so.”

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Chance It didn’t get the trip Joseph had envisioned in the Tampa Bay Derby, racing near mid-pack off a relatively slow pace during the early running before making a strong middle move only to fan very wide entering the stretch and flatten out down the stretch.

“All his numbers come back better than when he won the Stallion Stakes around two turns last fall and he only got beat 2 1/2 lengths for second,” said Joseph. “What bothered me was that his final kick never materialized.”

Joseph did not rule out another possible Derby prep for Chance It and the opportunity to earn enough points to qualify for the Kentucky Derby field.

“Everything would have to be perfect over the next week or two, but if it does, we’d probably try him in another Derby prep,” said Joseph. “I just don’t have those answers right now.”

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Chance It isn’t the only Derby contender in Joseph’s barn. He worked Ny Traffic and Disc Jockey here Monday with an eye on the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds for Ny Traffic and an undetermined Derby prep for Disc Jockey.

Ny Traffic, who finished third after setting a contested pace in a division of the Risen Star at Fair Grounds, was matched up against no less a workmate than Grade 1 winner Math Wizard, with the pair going five furlongs in a relatively easy 59.72 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.69 on even terms while fanning a bit wide into the clubhouse turn. Disc Jockey partnered up a short while later with Overdeliver, and they got the same distance in 59.99 with Disc Jockey edging one length clear galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.41.

“Math Wizard and Ny Traffic had a stiff work,” said Joseph. “Math Wizard is going to Dubai to run in the [Godolphin] Mile. Ny Traffic is going back to Fair Grounds for the Louisiana Derby. I thought he went really well today. Disc Jockey went good as well. I want to give him one try in a Derby prep but I still don’t know where yet. We have to go where I think he can get in. He probably wouldn’t make the cut if they get a full field in Louisiana. I’m not ruling anything else out just yet, including the Florida Derby.”