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Tonalist's Shape Prepares for Hollywood Wildcat

Author: Don Mckee
Published: Monday May 11, 2020
Grade 2 winner Tonalist's Shape breezed a half-mile on May 10 at Gulfstream Park in preparation for her start in the $75,000 Hollywood Wildcat Stakes.

Tonalist's Shape has won five of her last six starts, with the last five being under trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. She worked four furlongs in :48.12 on a fast main track, which was the fourth-fastest workout of 32 at the distance. 

Hollywood Wildcat

Tonalist's Shape is one of the eight sophomore fillies that are entered into the Hollywood Wildcat, which runs at 1 1/16 miles on May 15.

"She worked well. She sat inside of a horse that went a half in :48, and she galloped out in 1:01 and two (fifths of a second). I was happy with how she worked, and all seems ready to go," Joseph said.

The chestnut daughter of Tonalist suffered her only loss in her most recent start, which was the March 28 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2). In that race, she finished seventh. 

Tonalist's Shape started her 3-year-old season by winning the Forward Gal (G3) and Davona Dale (G2) stakes. The filly owned by Slam Dunk Racing, Doug Branham, and Legacy Ranch has continued to stay in good shape.

"She had a wide trip, and it's hard to get across in that first turn if you don't have speed. On Trakus, she ran 80 feet more than the winner; that's like eight lengths right there," Joseph said. "I think when all is said and done, you just have to throw out that race. Hopefully, we regroup on Friday and get to see the Tonalist's Shape that we're accustomed to seeing win."

Tonalist Shape sits in the sixth position on the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) leaderboard with 60 points.

Ny Traffic and Math Wizard

At the same time, Joseph is working on a return for Ny Traffic, the second-place finisher of the March 21 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2). The Cross Traffic colt is owned by John Fanelli, Cash is King, LC Racing, and Paul Braverman, and he breezed five furlongs in 1:00.35 at Gulfstream on May 9.

In the second division of the Feb. 15 Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, which was his graded stakes debut, Ny Traffic finished third after setting the pace.

"We haven't really picked a race. After the Fair Grounds, we decided we wanted to give him a break. We thought we had enough points where we could be able to give him a break, but now we're starting him back up. That was his stiffest work today so far."

According to Joseph, the May 23 Winn Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs is a possibility for the colt, but only time will tell.

Ny Traffic holds the 12th spot on the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) leaderboard with 50 points.

The Grade 1 winner Math Wizard breezed as well at Gulfstream on May 10 for Joseph. He missed his start in the March 28 Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) at Meydan. The card was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 4-year-old Algorithms colt worked a half-mile in :49.02. 

"He's doing well. He went to Dubai, made the trip, and didn't get to run. He came back from Dubai and we gave him a little time," Joseph said. "We started him back up, and that was his third work. We'll probably run him at Gulfstream. He'll probably start back up in an allowance race."

Math Wizard was the winner of the 2019 Pennsylvania Derby (G1). He is campaigned by Fanelli, Khalid Mishref, Cash is King, LC racing, Collarmele Vitelli Stables, Ionnis Zoumas, and Bassett Stables.