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Math Wizard Preparing At Gulfstream For Breeders' Cup

Author: Don Mckee
Published: Tuesday October 15, 2019
Math Wizard breezed three furlongs in :35 4/5 on Sunday at Gulfstream Park, as he continues to prepare for the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita Park on Nov. 2. His last run was a 31-1 upset win in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Parx Racing on Sept. 21. 

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. spoke about the horse's training. 

"It went good. It went to plan. He went three-eighths (of a mile) and galloped out really good. He did it with his ears pricked," Joseph said. "Edgard Zayas was on him. He had a lot of energy and is showing all the signs that he's moving forward, which is good because he'll need to improve four or five lengths to have a shot."

Math Wizard's Lead Up To Breeders' Cup

Math Wizard finished in third behind Maximum Security in a $16,000 maiden claiming race at Gulfstream in December. Maximum Security was the winner of the Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1), and he was disqualified in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) after finishing first. 

Math WIzard was claimed by owner John Fanelli for $25,000 after taking an 18 1/2-length victory on Jan. 31. He is the son of Algorithms. 

Other races for Math Wizard include the Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G2), where he finished fourth, and he ran recond in the Ohio Derby (G3) as well as third in the Indiana Derby (G3). 

At the Pennsylvania Derby, Math Wizard had jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. on board for the first time. The pair stayed back until they moved forward in the turn of the stretch, and they were able to pass up Mr. Money by a neck for the victory. 

"He'll have two more works here. We'll do all the work here and ship on Tuesday. It worked well last time," Joseph said.

Chance It, Diamond Oops, and Stormy Embrazed

Chance It, also trained by Joseph, will skip over the $2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) on Nov. 1. He will be running in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs instead. Chance It is the winner of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes In Reality Division at Gulfstream. 

Chance It, who also took the FSS Dr. Fager Division, is owned by Shooting Star Thoroughbreds. They are managed by trainer Mary Lightner. 

Diamond Oops, out of Patrick Biancone Racing, Diamond 100 Racing Club, Amy Dunner, and DP Racing, is set to run in the $1 million Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) on Nov. 2. He has placed in grade 1 events on dirt and turf in some of his most recent runs. 

"I talked to my partners, and we are going to the Breeders' Cup for the Mile Dirt. That's our first choice. If he doesn't get in for some reason, he'll go in the Sprint (G1)," trainer Patrick Biancone said.

Diamond Oops won the June 29 Smile Sprint Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream, and he finished second in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) at Saratoga Race Course on July 27. 

He ran on turf at Keeneland on Oct. 5 at the Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (G1T), where he finished second. 

"I think he's better on dirt, to be honest with you. The plan for the (Shadwell Turf) Mile was to give him a good mile before we go to California," Biancone said. "He's a nice horse. He's a very nice horse."

Matalona Thoroughbreds' Stormy Embrazed also breezed at Gulfstream Park West on Sunday Morning. She finished five furlongs in 1:03 2/5 as a preparation for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) on Nov. 2.