Gulfstream Today 1.31.21: Mischevious Alex, Ny Traffic Breeze in Company at Gulfstream

By David Joseph —-

GULFSTREAM TODAY

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Multiple graded-stakes winner Mischevious Alex breezed five furlongs in 1:00.35 Sunday morning at Gulfstream Park, accompanied by Grade 1 stakes-placed Ny Traffic.

Mischevious Alex, who came off a five-month layoff to capture a Jan. 10 optional claiming allowance in his first start for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., is likely to race next Feb. 13 in either the $100,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint (G3) or the $250,000 General (G3) at Laurel Park with an eye toward the April 3 Carter (G1) at Aqueduct.

“Today was a very good breeze and he galloped out strong,” Joseph said. “He finished his last quarter in 23 (seconds) and change, so we’re very happy.”

Sunday’s workout was the first since Mischevious Alex won his 2021 debut by 3 ¾ lengths while running six furlongs in 1:09.67.

Mischevious Alex, who is owned by Cash is King LL and LC Racing LLC, launched his 2020 campaign with a 9 ¾ length victory in the Swale (G3) at Gulfstream and a two-length score in the Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct before finishing fourth in the Woody Stephens (G1) at Belmont and sixth in the H. Allen Jerkens (G1) at Saratoga.

Ny Traffic, who was also timed in 1:00.35, has been out of action since finishing eighth in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and ninth in the Preakness (G1) at Pimlico.

“The work was really more for Mischevious Alex. It was Ny Traffic’s first five-eighths and we let him go easy. Alex was going to gallop out.,” Joseph said. “I thought he got enough out of it. Next week, we’ll start picking it up do a little more with him. We’ll work him to more times and then make a plan for him.”

Ny Traffic, who is owned by John Fanelli, Cash is King LLC, LC Racing LLC, Paul Braverman and team Hanley, finished second in the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds, the Matt Winn (G2) at Churchill Downs, and the Haskell (G1) at Monmouth Park. The son of Cross Traffic lost the Haskell by just a nose to Authentic, who went on to win the Kentucky Derby.

Joseph reported the Drain the Clock came out of his dominating victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Swale (G3) at Gulfstream Park in good order.

Wednesday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed at $700,000

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $700,000 Wednesday at Gulfstream Park.

The popular multi-race wager went unsolved for the fifth straight racing day Sunday when multiple tickets with all six winners were each worth $2,718.50.

The jackpot pool is only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day’s pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

WHO’S HOT: Edgard Zayas continued to make the most of his opportunities during the 2020-2021 Championship Meet Sunday. Fresh off his winning ride aboard Drain the Clock in Saturday’s Swale (G3), Zayas notched four wins on Sunday’s program, scoring aboard Blessed Journey ($5.20) in Race 5, Aycapote ($8.20) in Race 7, El Pillo ($7.80) in Race 8, and Summer Kid ($13.20) in Race 9.

Summer Kid was Zayas’ 50th win of the meet.

Leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr. had a three-win day, scoring aboard Topo Grigio ($3.20) in Race 2, No Decaf ($5.60) in Race 3, and War Stopper ($3.80) in Race 10.

Junior Alvarado notched bac- to-back wins aboard Blessed Journey ($5.20) in Race 5 and Crew Dragon ($8) in Race 6.

About The Stronach Group and 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred horseracing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The company’s consumer facing brand 1/ST (pronounced “First”) powers The Stronach Group’s forward-thinking 1/ST RACING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY, 1/ST LIVE and 1/ST PROPERTIES businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING drives the best-in-class horseracing operations at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, and Gulfstream Park West (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course – home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the newly formed operating group for all of 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, GWS and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is horseracing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST LIVE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality by delivering uniquely curated events such as InfieldFest and Pegasus LIV Stretch Village. 1/ST PROPERTIES is responsible for the development of the company’s live, work and play communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred horseracing on and off the track. For more information please email david.joseph@gulfstreampark.com and visit www.1st.com.

Cover Photo By Lauren King

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