Saffie Looking to Build on Recent Successes
Sunday, February 16, 2020
    HALLANDALE BEACH - Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who saddled Cookie Dough to victory Saturday in the Gr. III Royal Delta at Gulfstream and Ny Traffic to a third-place finish in a division of the Gr. II Risen Star at Fair Grounds, hopes to build on the momentum in the next couple weeks with Gr. 1 winner Math Wizard and Mucho Macho Man winner Chance It.

    Joseph, the third leading trainer at the Championship Meet behind Todd Pletcher and Mike Maker, sends out Pennsylvania Derby winner Math Wizard Monday at Oaklawn in the $500,000, Gr. III Razorback. The 4-year-old, who Joseph claimed for $25,000 in January of 2019, will be making his first start since finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

    “I think he’s doing good,” said Joseph this morning of Math Wizard. “He likes to go into cold weather places; it kind of puts a little more energy into him. Hopefully, he runs well. He doesn’t have to win. I just want a good showing.”


    Chance It, a son of Currency Swap who won the $400,000 In Reality division of the Florida Sire Stakes in September and kicked off his 3-year-old campaign Jan. 4 in the Mucho Macho Man, is scheduled to work 5 furlongs Monday morning in preparation for his next start at Gulfstream in the Gr. II Fountain of Youth on Feb. 29. The race is expected to also draw Dennis’ Moment
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    “Dennis’ Moment has been impressive,” Joseph said. “I think Chance it…I feel confident against other horses. I just want to make sure everything is right. Talent? There’s no question about the talent.”

    Joseph said Arindel’s homebred Cookie Dough came out of her Royal Delta victory well and could be pointed toward the $1 million, Gr. I Apple Blossom on April 18 at Oaklawn. Ny Traffic, third to Modernist in a division of the Risen Star, will likely stay on the Derby trail.

    “He ran a very good race,” Joseph said. “Watching him through most of the race I wasn’t sure how well he was handling the track, and he looked a little green still. I’m going to run him back with blinkers. I think they’re going to make a big difference. We picked up 10 [Kentucky Derby] points so we’ll take another shot in a stakes to try and get him into the Derby field.”

    Joseph will be represented Monday in seven of Gulfstream’s starter stakes on a special Presidents’ Day program with a first race post of 12:35 p.m.

    The 20-cent Rainbow 6 was not hit today for the 14th consecutive day. There will be a guaranteed pool on the Monday program of $1.250 million. Multiple tickets with all six winners returned $64.82
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