Trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr.
John Fanelli, Cash Is King, LC Racing and Paul Braverman’s New York-bred Ny Traffic made the lead at the stretch call of Saturday’s Grade 3 Matt Winn at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., but could not hold off the rallying Maxfield in a solid second-place finish that garnered 20 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said he was thrilled by the effort from Ny Traffic.
“It was a very important race and he was beaten by an exceptional horse,” said Joseph. “We’re thankful we have enough points now to get into the Derby.”
Ny Traffic now stands eighth on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 70 points.
The Cross Traffic colt, bred in the Empire State by Brian Culnan, was a major player in a pair of Derby preps at the Fair Grounds finishing third in a division of the G2 Risen Star in February and second in the G2 Louisiana Derby in March.
Joseph said Ny Traffic came out of the Matt Winn in good order.
“He’s doing good. My assistant is there with him and said he came out of the race well,” said Joseph.
Joseph said a decision on a potential start in the Grade 1, $1-million Belmont Stakes, the first leg of the Triple Crown slated at 1 1/8 miles on June 20 at Belmont Park has yet to be made.
“We haven’t made a decision yet regarding the Belmont,” said Joseph, Jr. “That’s going to be down to how the horse is doing and the owner’s choice. We probably won’t make a decision for another 10 days at least.”
Joseph said the one-turn Belmont Stakes would suit his colt.
“Trip wise, I think that would be perfect for him,” said Joseph, Jr. “It’s just a matter of the timing with the race being four weeks out. It’s something we’ll have to consider, but we’re not going to rush a decision.”
Slam Dunk Racing, Doug Branham and Legacy Ranch, Inc.’s Tonalist‘s Shape, who has won six-of-seven- starts, is possible for the G1, $300,000 Acorn slated for Belmont Stakes Day June 20 at Belmont Park.
Joseph said the laid-back Tonalist chestnut saves her best efforts for the afternoon which includes scores in the G3 Forward Gal and G2 Davona Dale at Gulfstream Park.
“She’s a filly that just does what she has to do,” said Joseph. “When you watch her breeze you’d never know that she’s such a good horse.”
Joseph said he is still deciding between the Acorn, a one-turn mile, or the G1 Ashland at 1 1/16-miles rescheduled for July 11 at Keeneland.
“We have to decide between the Acorn and the Ashland, but we won’t decide for a little while yet what we’re going to do,” said Joseph, Jr. “We know she’s effective at a one-turn mile.”
John Fanelli, Khalid Mishref, Cash Is King, LC Racing, Collarmele Vitelli Stables, Ioannis Zoumas, and Bassett Stables’ Grade 1-winner Math Wizard is currently in training at Gulfstream Park.
The 4-year-old Algorithms chestnut boasts a record of 15-3-2-1 with purse earnings in excess of $1 million, led by a score in the G1 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx in September. Joseph said he is looking for a prep race for the well-traveled colt before heading back to stakes company.
“Ideally, we’d like to run him in an allowance at Gulfstream so he can run out of his own stall for once,” said Joseph. “He’s fit now and ready to go. In a perfect world, I’d like to start him back in an allowance.
“He’s been an overachiever. He always tries hard and he gave us the biggest victory of our life so far,” added Joseph. “He put us on the map and I can’t thank him enough. He has so much try in him and that’s something you can’t teach.”
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