Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Ny Traffic and Tonalist's Shape tuned up for upcoming 3-year-old stakes engagements Sunday at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.
Ny Traffic, who currently sits seventh in the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying-points standings, breezed five furlongs in 58.64 seconds, the fastest of 12 workouts recorded at the distance, for a likely start in the $1 million Haskell (G1) at Monmouth Park July 18.
“I worked him Monday last week, so he came back in six days. I wanted to get a good work into him and he worked super. He finished up really good. He ran the last quarter in 22-and-4 and galloped out strong,” Joseph said. “After that work today, I'd say we're probably going to run him in the Haskell, 95 percent sure.”
Ny Traffic, who is owned by John Fanelli, Cash is King LLC, LC Racing and Paul Braverman, finished second, a length behind Maxfield in the May 23 Matt Winn (G3) at Churchill Downs last time out. The 3-year-old son of Cross Traffic previously finished second, 1 ½ lengths behind Wells 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.
Tonalist's Shape, who currently ranks seventh in qualifying points for the Sept. 4 Kentucky Oaks (G1), breezed five furlongs in 59.43 seconds, the third-fastest five-furlong work of the morning.
“Last week's work was a little quicker than ideal, so we just tried to slow her down a little. Once again, she worked super. We're very happy with where we are with her,” said Joseph, whose Oaks hopeful breezed a half-mile in 45.35 seconds a week earlier. “We still haven't decided. It'll be either the Ashland or the Coaching Club. We'll probably decide [Monday].”
The $300,000 Ashland (G1), a 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-old fillies, is scheduled to be run next Saturday at Keeneland, while the $350,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) is scheduled to be run at 1 1/8 miles July 18 at Saratoga.
Tonalist's Shape is coming off a sharp 3 3/4-length victory in the May 15 Hollywood Wildcat, her first win around two turns, rebounding from her first career loss in the March 28 Fasig-Tipton 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.
“She's in good form. She's holding good weight. She's happy and strong. We're happy with where we're at,” Joseph said.
Both Ny Traffic and Tonalist's Shape were ridden by assistant trainer Sabine Langvad Sunday.
“We're thankful to have her,” Joseph said. “She has a lot of passion for what she does, and that's what we need.”
Math Wizard, who gave Joseph his first Grade 1 success in last year's Pennsylvania Derby at Parx, breezed a half-mile in 49.14 in preparation for the $300,000 Monmouth Cup (G3) on the Haskell undercard.
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