HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. sent Ny Traffic and Tonalist’s Shape to the Gulfstream Park racetrack June 14 to prepare for upcoming preps for the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1), respectively.
John Fanelli, Cash Is King LLC, LC Racing and Paul Braverman’s Ny Traffic returned to the worktab for the first time since finishing second in the May 23 Matt Winn (G3) at Churchill Downs. The son of Cross Traffic breezed three-furlongs in 37.50 seconds.
“He went an easy three-eighths,” Joseph said. “We’re not sure where we’re going to go yet – probably the [Grade 2] Blue Grass, [July 11 at Keeneland], the [Grade 1] Haskell [July 18 at Monmouth Park], the [Grade 3] Indiana Derby [July 8 at Indiana Grand] or the [Grade 3] Ohio Derby [June 27 at Thistledown]. We’re going to talk it over.”
Ny Traffic, who finished a length behind Maxfield in the Matt Winn previously finished second, 1 ½ lengths behind Welles Bayou in the Louisiana Derby (G2), and third in the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds. In his first start for Joseph, the New York-bred colt scored a front-running 6 ¾-length romp in a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream Jan. 11.
Ny Traffic currently ranks seventh with 70 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.
Slam Dunk Racing, Doug Branham and Legacy Racing Inc.’s Tonalist’s Shape breezed a half-mile in 46.75 seconds, the fastest of 68 recorded at the distance, following up a three-furlong workout in a solid 35.50 seconds a week earlier.
“She was never a super work horse, but her last two works have been really good,” Joseph said. “We haven’t decided where we’re going to go. The [Grade 1] Acorn [June 20 at Belmont Park] is a possibility. Maybe the [Grade 1] Ashland [Aug. 1 at Keeneland]. There’s an outside possibility she could go in the [Grade 3] Delaware Oaks [July 4 at Delaware Park].”
Tonalist’s Shape is coming off a sharp 3 ¾-length victory in the May 15 Hollywood Wildcat, her first around two turns, rebounding from sustaining her first career loss in the March 28 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2). The Kentucky-bred filly had won her first five starts, including victories in the Forward Gal (G3) and the Davona Dale (G2) during the 2019-2020 Championship Meet at Gulfstream.
Tonalist’s Shape currently ranks sixth with 60 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points.
Gulfstream Park Press Release
Photo: NY Traffic. Credit: Coglianese/Lauren King
