Joseph Continues Upward Trajectory Into Kentucky Derby

Last September Saffie Joseph Jr. saddled Math Wizard, his first grade 1 starter, to win the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Parx Racing. The 33-year-old trainer has participated in multiple other grade 1 races since then, and on Sept. 5 he'll check off another goal by saddling his first starter in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), Ny Traffic, at Churchill Downs.

"It means everything. This is why we do it. That's why we get up early, go to bed late, work basically the whole day, and just think of our horses all day," Joseph said of the opportunity. "Just to get these kind of horses, we're forever thankful to the owners for giving us a chance. I have a good team as far as staff goes, assistants, riders in the morning, grooms. It's a full teamwork. When it does come together and you have a horse of this quality, it's very gratifying."

Joseph is a third generation horseman from Barbados, where he began training at 18 and became the country's youngest trainer at 22 to win the Barbados Triple Crown with Areutalkintome. He said racing in Barbados is more of a hobby and only takes place about twice a month. With lofty goals set and spying more opportunities to run in the United States, Joseph moved his operation with two horses to Gulfstream Park in 2011 and has based at the South Florida oval since. He currently leads the trainer standings of Gulfstream's spring/summer meet, which began April 2, with 46 wins through Aug. 30.

"At the time, looking back on it now, it was a crazy idea. It's been hard because for the first seven years it didn't look like we were going to pick up enough owners just to have those numbers to get attention," he said of the move. "There were times where it looked like we were about to not make it. We were doing well, we started winning 12 and 15 races a year, but you need to win many more than that to garner attention. We didn't have enough horses. Most of them were owned by ourselves and a few owners. It just came together in the last two years where one owner started referring another owner and we kept winning.

"We're blessed to be in this position. I know how hard it is to get here. It's been hard, so I'm not taking anything for granted. I'm very thankful and I know that a lot of people made it possible."

John Fanelli, Cash is King, LC Racing, and Paul Braverman's Ny Traffic will be seeking his first stakes victory in the Derby, but the New York-bred Cross Traffic  colt has placed in four consecutive graded stakes. Ny Traffic was moved to Joseph's barn for his 3-year-old campaign and opened with a 6 3/4-length allowance optional claiming win at Gulfstream Park in January. At Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots he finished third in a division of the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) and second in the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2). He then finished second in the Matt Winn Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs.

His latest effort came in the July 18 TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park, where he missed fellow Derby contender Authentic by a nose after re-rallying in the stretch.

"That was just another step on the races he had run before. It was another building block and he ran his career best and all the figures in that race," Joseph said. "We were proud of him. At the quarter pole it looked like he was going to backup, probably run a distant second or even third. To see him re-rally and to finish up well, it gives us a lot of confidence going into the Derby."

Jockey Paco Lopez, aboard for the Matt Winn and Haskell, will have the return call in the Derby.

Joseph said except for a brief period at 6 or 7 years old when he wanted to be a jockey, he has always wanted to follow the family tradition and continue training.

"My dad (Saffie Joseph Sr.) was a trainer. I wanted to follow in his footsteps. He only trained in Barbados. I had a lot more crazy ideas to come to America and try to compete but so far it's worked out. It's worked out because we've been given opportunities like really good owners. They make it possible."

Joseph credits Math Wizard, a $25,000 claim that is now a millionaire, for helping put him on the map as a trainer and reach the point he's at today. 

"We already had the foundation there as far as a good team put together. We had the horses and then he won the Pennsylvania Derby and I had a good 2-year-old named Chance It. Also we had other horses in the barn," said Joseph, who has also sent out the 3-year-old filly Tonalist's Shape to multiple graded stakes wins this year. "We had a strong Championship Meet at Gulfstream. We have the numbers now, we have the right horses, we have the right owners. You need to have the numbers in this game to continue to be successful and that's what we have. We have the right team put together, the horses being the most important piece of the puzzle. That's what makes all the success."

Joseph said his wife, Morgan, and kids, Sienna and Rocco, will be with him in Louisville for the Derby. Ny Traffic will travel from Saratoga Race Course to Churchill early Sept. 1.

"Today I was talking to my kids and wife on FaceTime because they just arrived in Louisville today," Joseph said Sunday. "You just see that joy. They were so happy to get to the hotel. You see the joy in their face and racing brings that joy to me. That's the only thing that compares to seeing your kids happy, is when you have a horse that does really well. It doesn't matter what class it is. They could win a claimer and it's a very satisfying feeling.

"Racing brings us together, friends and family. It's an exciting sport. Once you're in it and you understand it, the joy is seeing your horse go there and compete and they're like your kids basically. There's a lot of passion in it. There's a lot of ups and downs. Probably more downs than ups, that's why the ups mean so much when they do happen because so many things can go wrong. There's only one way to win a race and there's so many ways to lose it."

Joseph will continue to ride those ups into Saturday's Kentucky Derby with hopes of a win and another goal crossed off the list.

"That is my dream and hopefully we can accomplish it one day," he said. "It would be nice to accomplish it this year but if not, hopefully one day. We're going on the right path towards accomplishing that dream and fulfilling it. It would mean the world to us if we could get it done."