Joseph Jr. lines up stakes runners off another big weekend

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who sent out Cookie Dough to victory Saturday in the Royal Delta (G3) at Gulfstream Park and Ny Traffic to a third-place finish in a division of the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds, hopes to build on the momentum in the next couple weeks.

Joseph, the third-leading trainer at Gulfstream’s Championship Meet, sends out Pennsylvania Derby (G1) winner Math Wizard Monday at Oaklawn in the Grade 3, $500,000 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 (G1).

“I think he’s doing good,” said Joseph Sunday 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, worked five furlongs Monday morning in preparation for his next start at Gulfstream in the Feb. 29 Fountain of Youth (G2). The race is alo expected to also draw Dennis’ Moment.

“Dennis’ Moment has been impressive,” Joseph said of the Grade 3 winner and former Breeders' cup Juvenile favorite. “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 Apple Blossom (G1) 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.”