Kentucky Derby Horses: Ny Traffic

2020 Kentucky Derby Contender Profiles

He’s 4-for-4 (three seconds) in the money in stakes this year, so he’s an owner’s dream.

Ny Traffic (inside) with Maxfield. Courtesy of Coady Photography/Churchill Downs

At 0-for-4, he torments win bettors. Ny Traffic belongs in top company – he was nosed out by Authentic in the Haskell (G1) and was a close second to sidelined standouts Wells Bayou and Maxfield.

Still, I can’t visualize a breakthrough in the Derby. I see him contesting the pace with his characteristic grit and just failing short again. You can’t leave him out of exotics, but you can’t play him to win.

Most recent workout was Aug. 20 at Saratoga – 5 furlongs in 59.03 seconds, second fastest of 25 at the distance.

Profiles will be updated with morning-line odds and post position after the field is drawn on Tuesday, Sept. 1.

Odds: TBD

Post position: TBD

Jockey: Paco Lopez

Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.

Owners: John Fanelli, Cash Is King LLC, LC Racing, Paul Braverman

Career record: 9-2-3-2

Career earnings: $565,470

Top Equibase speed figure: 109

Kentucky Derby points: 110 (5^th)

Pedigree: Cross Traffic-Mamie Reilly, by Graeme Hall

Color: Gray

Running style: Front-runner/stalker

Notes: A trainer since 2011 based in Florida, Joseph saddled his first Grade 1 winner in 2019 when Math Wizard won the Pennsylvania Derby at odds of 31-1 … This will be Joseph’s first Derby starter … Paco Lopez retains the mount, and will be riding in his second Derby. In 2018, he finished 11^th aboard Firenze Fire … Co-owner Chuck Zacney’s Cash Is King owned Afleet Alex, who won the 2005.

(US Racing’s Kentucky Derby coverage will include profiles of the horses listed as probable for the race on Saturday, Sept. 5. Each day until the post-position draw on Tuesday, Sept. 1, US Racing will publish selected profiles of the contenders.)