Drain the Clock Back to Work With Eye on Derby Prep

Drain the Clock breezed a half-mile Feb. 14 at Gulfstream Park in preparation for a possible start in the Feb. 27 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Sakes (G2). The 3-year-old Maclean's Music  colt was timed in :49.02 in his first workout since romping to victory in the Jan. 30 Claiborne Farm Swale Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream.

"It was his first easy breeze by himself. He went as good as could ask," trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. "Next week, we'll put in company. I didn't want him to go with company today, because I didn't want him to go too fast. By himself, he'll go as slow as you want. In company, he gets more aggressive."

Drain the Clock has won four of five lifetime starts, his only loss coming when he lost his rider due to a broken iron in the Nov. 30 Jeanne Laffite Stakes at Delta Downs. He entered the Delta stakes off a six-length debut victory at Gulfstream and an optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream Park West. The chestnut bounced back from trip to Louisiana with a 7 1/2-length win in the Jan. 2 Limehouse Stakes and a 6 1/4-length triumph in the seven-furlong Swale during the 2020-21 Championship Meet.

Joseph said Drain the Clock will likely return to action in the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth or the March 6 Gotham Stakes (G3) going a mile at Aqueduct Racetrack. Both races offer qualifying points for a spot in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) starting gate on a 50-20-10-5 scale to the top four finishers.

"He's also nominated to the Tampa Bay Derby (G2), but I would say it's between the Fountain of Youth or the Gotham," Joseph said.

Drain the Clock is campaigned by Slam Dunk Racing, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables, and Michael Nentwig. He was bred by Slam Dunk managing partner Nick Cosato.

Joseph-trained Ny Traffic, who came within a nose of beating 2020 Horse of the Year Authentic  in last year's TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park, also breezed a half-mile Sunday at Gulfstream. Idle since finishing ninth in the Oct. 3 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course, the 4-year-old Cross Traffic  colt was timed in :47:53 in his sixth breeze in preparation for his return to action.

"The was his most serious work to date," Joseph said. "He's in good order. He'll have maybe two more works and we'll try to find a spot."

The New York-bred worked in company with Jan. 13 Gulfstream Park Sprint Stakes (G3) winner Mischevious Alex in his previous workout.

Ny Traffic, owned by John Fanelli, Cash is King, LC Racing, Paul Braverman, and Team Hanley, last year finished second in the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the Matt Winn Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs, and the Haskell. He was eighth in the Kentucky Derby.