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‘Another Jump Forward’: Joseph Pleased With Ny Traffic’s Haskell Performance

Ny Traffic stalled at the top of the stretch before shifting into high gear in Saturday's Haskell (G1) at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., putting a late scare into front-running Authentic, only to fall an excruciating nose short of victory.

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. expressed more satisfaction than disappointment in his Gulfstream Park-based Kentucky Derby (G1) prospect Sunday morning.

“I think I've lost a claimer and been more upset. For some reason, I didn't feel any disappointment, because I know where we're trying to get – to the Derby,” Joseph said. “I just thought it was another step forward again. I didn't want to see any regression. That was my biggest thing – not seeing any regression.”

Ny Traffic, who currently sits fourth in qualifying points for the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, chased a loose-on-the-lead Authentic into the stretch, where he made a courageous-but-failed bid for victory.

“I was proud of him. At the quarter-pole, he was off the bridle and it looked like he wouldn't be able to get second. To see him, trying and keep coming and almost getting there…At the sixteenth pole, I thought he might win. It went from a low to a high,” Joseph said. “I didn't take the beat that bad, honestly. I was just happy how he ran and it was another jump forward, like we're going in the right way for the Derby.”

Ny Traffic, who followed up a dominating Jan. 11 allowance win at Gulfstream in his first start for Joseph with a third-place finish in the Risen Star (G2), a runner-up finish in the Louisiana Derby (G2) and a second-place finish in the Matt Winn (G3), is owned by John Fanelli, Cash is King LLC, LC Racing and Paul Braverman.

“I'm sending him to Saratoga and let him train there a little bit. I don't know if we'll ship early to Churchill or ship late. We haven't decided yet,” Joseph said.

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Derby Up Next for Authentic

Authentic (Into Mischief) exited his win in Saturday’s GI TVG.com Haskell S. at Monmouth Park in fine shape and will now train up to the Sept. 5 GI Kentucky Derby, trainer Bob Baffert confirmed Sunday. The colt pulled away to a clear advantage in the stretch of the Haskell before holding on to a last-gasp victory over Ny Traffic (Cross Traffic).

“We’re going to work on him a little until then [the Derby],” Baffert said. “I was pretty proud of him. He ran well. I might have to put a little blinker on him because he went to idling on me. Turning for home, I kept waiting for him to turn it on, but he was doing some looking around and idling there. [Jockey] Mike [Smith] saw that other horse coming at the last minute.”

Still Baffert found plenty of positives from Authentic’s victory.

“He’s a late [May 5] foal,” Baffert said. “He’s maturing, but he’s a quirky little guy. I think that it’s impressive that he shipped, he got on a plane, he went all the way over there, and he handled it well. He didn’t get hot in the paddock. He handled it all well and that’s what you want to see. I’m happy with him. But he still has a lot of improving to do.”

Authentic left Monmouth Park and vanned to Lexington where he will spend a week before catching a flight back to Baffert’s Southern California base.

Trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. said it was also on to the Derby for Ny Traffic, who shipped back to his New York base Sunday.

“That was a tough beat, but to be honest, it really didn’t hurt that much because I am just so proud of this horse,” Joseph said. “He ran an amazing race. At the quarter-pole, it looked like he was all done and the other horse was going to win easily. But he got going again and I’m very proud of him.”

Looking ahead to the Derby, Joseph said, “I thought we already had enough Derby points going in, so the important thing was to just get a good race into him. Now it’s about who is moving forward, not who has peaked or is going backward. Going forward is the most important thing right now and that’s why that tough beat can’t really hurt me. I was just really happy to see him take that major step forward. That’s the most important thing. Most definitely, there is a lot to be excited about with him. I just want him to stay sound and healthy and then we’re on to the Derby.”

While he has yet to win a stakes race, Ny Traffic was second in both the GIII Matt Winn S. and the GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby and was third in the GII Risen Star S.

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Record $20.5 Million Wagered On Haskell Day At Monmouth Park

Monmouth Park set a track record for handle for a non-Breeders' Cup day when bettors wagered a total of $20,479,392 on Saturday's 14-race TVG.com Haskell Stakes day card in Oceanport, N.J. The record handle was achieved despite restrictions for on-track attendance due to COVID-19 guidelines.

The overall handle from all sources surpassed the previous non-Breeders' Cup record of $20,024,509 set on Haskell Day on Aug, 2. 2015.

It is only the second $20 million handle for a non-Breeders' Cup program in Monmouth Park's 75-year history.

“The reality is that this will go down in history as one of the most challenging yet gratifying Haskell Days in history,” said John Heims, Monmouth Park's racing secretary and director of racing. “We are grateful to the Governor for his leadership and for permitting us the ability to have race fans to enjoy this terrific experience and be part of a day that will long be remembered.”

Authentic's nose victory over Ny Traffic also extended Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert's record to nine Haskell victories.

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Monmouth Posts Record Handle on Haskell Day

Monmouth Park set a track record for handle for a non-Breeders’ Cup day when bettors wagered a total of $20,479,392 on Saturday’s 14-race GI TVG.com Haskell S. day card. The record handle was achieved despite restrictions for on-track attendance due to COVID-19 guidelines.

The overall handle from all sources surpassed the previous non-Breeders’ Cup record of $20,024,509 set on Haskell Day on Aug. 2, 2015.

It is only the second $20-million handle for a non-Breeders’ Cup program in Monmouth Park’s 75-year history.

Authentic (Into Mischief)’s nose victory over Ny Traffic (Cross Traffic) also extended Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s record to nine Haskell victories.

The post Monmouth Posts Record Handle on Haskell Day appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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