Ny Traffic comes into Monmouth Cup off two sharp efforts
Ny Traffic was one of the more accomplished horses that failed to win a stakes in 2020. A third-place finish in the Risen Star was followed by runner-up performances in both the Louisiana Derby and Matt Winn. Sent to Monmouth for the Haskell, Ny Traffic ran the race of his career, falling a nose shy to eventual Horse of the Year Authentic.
Ny Traffic seeks that stakes triumph in Saturday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Monmouth Cup at nine furlongs.
Trainer Saffie Joseph was a bit concerned early in the winter when Ny Traffic was not training up to par. “When we gave him the break, about two months before he ran, he was a little lethargic,” Joseph said. “Right before his debut, his last two to three works came back to where we thought was his best.”
The son of Cross Traffic earned a 103 Beyer winning his seasonal debut sprinting, then was embroiled in a pace duel when second in the Salvator Mile.
“When you dissect it, he ran a good race in his second start back,” said Joseph. “Most of the time, my opinion is horses second time off a long layoff are most vulnerable. I feel like the third will be his best race of the cycle.”
Dr Post enjoyed a productive 3-year-old season last year, finishing second in the Belmont and third in the Haskell. He won the Westchester in his 2021 debut before running fifth in the Metropolitan Handicap. Todd Pletcher adds blinkers for Dr Post’s return to two-turns.
Night Ops should have a say. A Grade 3 winner at this distance, he knocked heads with big names this year. Third to Metropolitan Handicap winner Silver State in both the Fifth Season and Essex Handicap, he recently was beaten a nose by 2020 Queen’s Plate hero Mighty Heart.
Bankit has won four of his last five, including a 105 Beyer performance over muddy going in the Commentator. “He’s a blue-collar, check-getting, solid performer that’s coming off his lifetime best race with a nice amount of time since,” said trainer Steve Asmussen.
Multiple stakes-winners Bal Harbour and American Dubai, and Justinthenickoftime also were entered.
Wolf Hill
Claimed for $30,000 in January 2020, The Critical Way has blossomed into a top turf sprinter. The 7-year-old projects as the favorite in the $100,000 Wolf Hill at 5 1/2 furlongs on the grass.
A three-length winner of last month’s Get Serious, The Critical Way has hit the board in his last nine turf starts.
Readyforprimetime, third in the Duncan F. Kenner at the Fair Grounds in his first start of the year, returns to turf after a fifth in the Jacques Cartier over Woodbine’s Tapeta. He has enough speed to keep The Critical Way honest in the early stages.
Also in the field are Fox Rox, a winner of 25 races in his career; stakes-winner Cajun Casanova; multiple stakes-placed The Connector; Mojovation; and I Got a Rock.