Ny Traffic more than holding form for Kentucky Derby
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Ny Traffic has improved with every start since launching his 3-year-old campaign with an easy allowance win at Gulfstream Park more than seven months ago. And trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. is hoping that Ny Traffic – the “other” New York-bred in the field along with heavy favorite Tiz the Law – will have one more forward move in him on Kentucky Derby Day.
Ny Traffic gave every indication that could well be the case by working five furlongs in 59.03 seconds shortly after the renovation break here Thursday. With exercise rider Sabrina Langvad aboard, Ny Traffic broke about 3 1/2 lengths behind stablemate Queen Nekia, drew even after an opening three-eighths in 35.44, then maintained a short advantage to the wire and galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.32.
“We wanted a strong work today, which is why we sat him off company this week,” Joseph said. “He kind of poked his head in front and then hung a little bit. That’s the only thing we haven’t perfected yet – getting him to go on and leave his workmate. He’s gotten better, but once he gets in front, he thinks he’s done enough. I told Sabrina to make sure he went out a strong three-quarters, and she said when the other horse came to him, he went on again.”
Joseph said he’s seen a progression with Ny Traffic throughout the year. Ny Traffic finished third in the Risen Star at Fair Grounds in February and second in the Louisiana Derby there in March. In May, he ran second in the Matt Winn at Churchill Downs, then finished second in the Haskell at Monmouth, beaten a nose by Authentic.
“In the Risen Star, he was kind of idling and in the Louisiana Derby it took him even longer to get going but he ran better again,” Joseph said. “I thought the race at Monmouth was his best yet for finishing off. Perhaps it was the fact Authentic was coming back that made it look better. But when Dr Post came to him at the top of the lane, he ran away from him, so I use that as a gauge. I know it’s tough to ask him to improve again. But they’ve been baby steps so far, and if he gives us one more jump forward, I think he’s a legitimate outsider and it’s not impossible for him to win.”
Joseph confirmed that Paco Lopez, who has been aboard Ny Traffic in his last two starts, will retain the mount in the Derby.
Thursday was a busy morning for Joseph, who also sent out his Grade 1 winner Math Wizard to breeze four furlongs in 49.02 and potential Kentucky Oaks candidate Tonalist’s Shape to go five-eighths in 1:00.78.
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Math Wizard had the blinkers back on Thursday after working without them a week ago alongside Ny Traffic.
“I put blinkers on this morning because he was by himself,” Joseph said Thursday. “He went without them last week since he was in company. Right now, the Charles Town Classic remains our main target with the Woodward still a second option if something were to happen.”
Tonalist’s Shape broke three lengths behind a workmate and stuck her head in front at the wire before galloping out three-quarters in 1:13.60 while again breezing without the blinkers she wore for the first time during her fourth-place effort as the 6-5 favorite in the Coaching Club Oaks earlier in the meet.
“She’s just not a flashy work horse without blinkers,” said Joseph, who remains undecided whether Tonalist’s Shape will run next in the Sept. 4 Kentucky Oaks or the Eight Belles earlier on the same day at Churchill Downs. “I thought she went good today for her.”