Math Wizard a 'Priceless' Reward for Trainer Joseph

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. was back to work early Sunday morning at Gulfstream Park after Math Wizard provided him with his first grade 1 victory with his 31-1 upset score in the $1,015,000 Pennsylvania Derby (G1) Sept. 21 at Parx Racing.

Joseph has always been a highly motivated young trainer, and Math Wizard's triumph has only inspired him to achieve even greater success.

"It was a priceless feeling. Everyone should have that feeling. Once you get that feeling, it makes you want to keep going more and more," Joseph said. "I was proud for the horse, the way he performed. On his best day, if you looked at it, he was capable, but if he had run third or fourth, I would have been happy."

Math Wizard, who finished third behind Maximum Security in a $16,000 maiden claiming race at Gulfstream in December, was claimed Jan. 31 by John Fenelli for $25,000 out of an 18 1/2-length victory and joined Joseph's stable. The 3-year-old son of Algorithms  went on to finish fourth in the Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G2), second in the Ohio Derby (G3), and third in the Indiana Derby (G3).

Saturday's win earned Math Wizard a fees-paid berth in the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 2 at Santa Anita Park. He ships back to Gulfstream Wednesday.

"If he (is) good … John, the owner, is ambitious; he's adventurous," Joseph said. "It's all worth it after (Saturday). I think when I report to him that he's doing good, I think that's where he's going to want to go. There are so many options, we don't have to push for the Breeders' Cup. There's so many races for older horses next year, like the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) and the new race in Saudi Arabia and the Dubai World Cup (G1). There are so many options that if the horse tells us no, we'll listen to the horse."