Ny Traffic (Cross Traffic), who exited an eighth-place finish in last Saturday’s GI Kentucky Derby with a cut in his left front ankle, remains possible for the GI Preakness S. Oct. 3, according to Saffie Joseph Jr.
“We got a couple cuts,” said Joseph. “He has a staple in his ankle from a cut he got. It looks like he should be OK. Within seven to 10 days we’ll decide. The main thing is the staple and when it gets taken out, how it’s going to be.”
Ny Traffic also lost his right front shoe in the Derby, in which he showed early speed to chase pacesetter and eventual winner Authentic while racing five wide before tiring.
“Would I say he ran his best race? No,” Joseph said. “I don’t know when he lost his shoe. When you’re at that level, you need to have everything go right. He wasn’t the best horse in the race to begin with, so he can’t afford to give away advantages.”
Ny Traffic, who came within a nose of defeating victorious Authentic in the July 18 GI Haskell at Monmouth, won his first start for Joseph in a Jan. 11 optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream. Prior to the Haskell, the New York-bred was third in the GII Risen Star S. before finishing runner-up in the GII Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds.
MGSW Tonalist’s Shape (Tonalist), fifth as the favorite in the GIII Charles Town Oaks last time out, is being considered for the GII Black-Eyed Susan on the Preakness undercard, according to Joseph.
“She’s back in Florida now,” he said. “We haven’t decided what to do with her yet. It’s possible she could run there.”
Tonalist’s Shape captured the GIII Forward Gal S. and GII Davona Dale during Gulfstream’s 2019-2020 Championship Meet.
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