Ny Traffic (Cross Traffic) was named likely to make the line-up for Saturday's GI Preakness S. at Pimlico following a four-furlong work in :48 flat (2/88) at Churchill Downs Sunday.
“Most likely he's going to go, but tomorrow we'll make the decision,” trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. said. “We were very happy with the work.”
Ny Traffic came up a nose short of Authentic (Into Mischief) when second in the July 18 GI TVG.com Haskell S. Sunday's work was his first since finishing eighth behind that rival in the Sept. 5 GI Kentucky Derby. He exited the Derby with a cut on his left front ankle.
Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) was confirmed for the Preakness following her five-furlong work in 1:00.80 (19/57) at Churchill Downs Saturday. Trainer Ken McPeek announced Sunday the sophomore will be ridden by Robby Albarado as she tries to become the sixth filly to win the Preakness.
“I know she will make the distance without any problem,” McPeek said of the GI Alabama S. winner. “I think she will like that racetrack. Of course, she has raced everywhere. Whatever racetrack she has raced over she has handled great. It was a tough call between racing against straight 3-year-olds or older fillies and mares or turf, which was briefly thought about. I think she will handle it fine.”
In her first attempt against males, Swiss Skydiver was second behind fellow Preakness hopeful Art Collector (Bernardini) in the July 11 GI Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland. She won as she pleased in the 1 1/4-mile Alabama at Saratoga Aug. 15 and was most recently second behind Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) in the Sept. 4 GI Kentucky Oaks.
“My preference would have been if they wrote a race like the Alabama back for this week,” McPeek said. “But that doesn't exist. There are no 3-year-old filly Grade Is. She gets a little bit of weight off and she's continuing to do good.”
Godolphin's homebred Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper), winner of the Sept. 5 GII Jim Dandy S., breezed five furlongs Sunday in 1:01.60 (2/2) over the main track at Fair Hill Training Center, but trainer Mike Stidham has all but ruled out the Preakness for the sophomore.
“The work went great. It was on a wet track, but he handled it really well. We were comfortable with it being a safe track to work on,” Stidham said. “He just went evenly and finished up nice with a good gallop-out, but we're pretty much focused on skipping the Preakness and going into the [Oct. 10 GI] Jockey Club [Gold Cup at Belmont Park].”
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