Ny Traffic, Tonalist's Shape Prepare for Summer Races

Saffie Joseph Jr. trainees Ny Traffic and Tonalist's Shape breezed June 14 at Gulfstream Park in preparation for upcoming preps on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Road to the Kentucky Oaks, respectively.

John Fanelli, Cash Is King, LC Racing, and Paul Braverman's Ny Traffic returned to the work tab for the first time since finishing second in the May 23 Matt Winn Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs. The son of Cross Traffic  breezed three furlongs in :37.50.

"He went an easy three-eighths," Joseph said. "We're not sure where we're going to go yet."

Options include the June 27 Ohio Derby (G3) at Thistledown, the July 8 Indiana Derby (G3) at Indiana Grand, the July 11 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland, and the July 18 TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park.

Ny Traffic was beaten a length by Maxfield in the Matt Winn and was 1 1/2 lengths behind Wells Bayou in the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Both Maxfield and Wells Bayou are sidelined due to physical setbacks.

Ny Traffic was third in a division of the Feb 15 Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) at Fair Grounds after winning a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claimer Jan 11 at Gulfstream. He ranks seventh with 70 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

Slam Dunk Racing, Doug Branham, and Legacy Ranch's Tonalist's Shape breezed a half-mile in :46.75, the fastest of 58 at the distance Sunday. It followed a three-furlong workout in :35.50 last week.

"She was never a super work horse, but her last two works have been really good," Joseph said.

As with Ny Traffic, numerous stakes options are being considered: the June 20 Acorn Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park, the July 11 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, and the July 4 Delaware Oaks (G3) at Delaware Park.

The 3-year-old daughter of Tonalist  is coming off a 3 3/4-length victory in the May 15 Hollywood Wildcat Stakes at Gulfstream, her first win around two turns. In that race, she rebounded from her first loss when seventh in the March 28 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2). The Kentucky-bred filly won her first five starts, including this year's Forward Gal Stakes (G3) and Davona Dale Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream.

Tonalist's Shape ranks sixth with 60 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points.

The Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) Sept. 5 and the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) Sept. 4 were both postponed because of COVID-19.