Rough trip in CCA Oaks won't derail Tonalist's Shape from Kentucky Oaks bid

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said that even though Tonalist’s Shape hit the rail “pretty hard” in the run to the first turn in Saturday’s Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga, she came out of the race well and is still being pointed for the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on Sept. 4.

Tonalist’s Shape finished a tiring fourth after taking up sharply into the first turn and racing wide thereafter as the 6-5 favorite in the Coaching Club. Tonalist’s Shape ran with blinkers on for the first time in the Coaching Club, her Grade 1 debut, an experiment Joseph said is likely over for now.

“I thought she got a little activated after she hit the rail, not before, although in the back of my mind I thought the blinkers could have that effect,” said Joseph. “Ideally I wish she could have gotten through the first turn clean, and if then she ran poorly we wouldn’t have that excuse. But most likely she won’t have the blinkers next time.”

:: Click to learn about our DRF's Free Past Performance program.

Joseph said he is planning on training Tonalist’s Shape up to the Oaks.

“We’re not going to let one bad race throw us off the trail unless she tells us otherwise over the next few weeks,” said Joseph.

Despite Tonalist’s Shape’s disappointing effort in the Coaching Club, Saturday wasn’t a total loss for Joseph, who was at Monmouth to saddle Ny Traffic to a narrow defeat in the Grade 1 Haskell and Math Wizard to finish second in the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup. Both horses were subsequently shipped from Monmouth to Joseph’s barn at Saratoga for the remainder of the summer.

:: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

“Obviously we would have loved to win the Haskell, but I’m not disappointed to finish second behind a horse like Authentic,” said Joseph. “The main thing going in was that he make a forward progression before the Derby and that’s what he did. He’ll stay at Saratoga to train up to the Derby, and since we already know he likes the Churchill Downs racetrack, he could do all his training there before shipping to Kentucky.”

Math Wizard turned in his best performance since winning the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby in September when finishing a late-running second behind Global Campaign in the Monmouth Cup. He, too, has joined Joseph’s small string at Saratoga.

“I’m very happy to see him come back to form,” said Joseph. “I’m not sure what we’re going to do with him yet. The Whitney is a possibility as is the Charles Town Classic.”