‘A Once In A Lifetime’: Ny Traffic Will Skip Belmont, Point To Haskell As Final Derby Prep by Paulick Report Staff|06.09.202006.09.2020|2:37pm6:10pm Ny Traffic, the gray with black blinkers, is near the front early during the G3 Matt Winn Stakes. The eventual winner, Maxfield, is alongside him under the blue silks. Most recently second in the G3 Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs, Ny Traffic was under consideration for the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes on June 20 a Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. Instead, co-owner John Fanelli told Horse Racing Nation this week that the 3-year-old son of Cross Traffic is more likely to skip the Belmont and aim for the G1 Haskell, scheduled for July 18 at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. Fanelli's reasoning is based on the timing, which he said makes more sense from the Haskell to the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby, the ownership group's ultimate goal. “The Derby is the most important race of the year for any 3-year-old. It's a once in a lifetime and you've got to do it if you can,” Fanelli told Horse Racing Nation. “Our idea is 'Let's work backward from the Derby.'” Trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr., Ny Traffic also garnered Derby points with a second-place finish in the Louisiana Derby and third-place finish in the Risen Star. He currently ranks eighth on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 70 points. Owned by Fanelli, Cash is King LLC, LC Racing, and Paul Braverman, Ny Traffic has an overall record of two wins, two seconds, and two thirds from eight starts for earnings of $365,470. Read more at Horse Racing Nation.