Chance It, Math Wizard Considered For Breeders' Cup

Chance It, winner of the Sept. 28 Affirmed division of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association Florida Sire Stakes at Gulfstream Park, and Math Wizard, upset winner of the Sept. 21 Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Parx Racing, are under consideration for the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita Park, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. told Gulfstream publicity.

Chance It and Math Wizard are candidates for the Nov. 1 TVG Juvenile (G1) and Nov. 2 Longines Classic (G1), respectively.

Both horses will be evaluated in the coming weeks before a commitment is made on their participation.

"We're going to train towards it and then decide whether to go," said Joseph, noting that they would likely ship to Santa Anita after breezing at Gulfstream a week before the Breeders' Cup.

Chance It passed his first two-turn test in the 1 1/16-mile In Reality, pressing the pace set by Smash Factor into the far turn before taking over and pulling away by 7 1/4 lengths under Tyler Gaffalione, who traveled from Kentucky for the mount.

The 2-year-old Currency Swap colt, who finished second to Smash Factor in his June 1 debut, broke his maiden by 9 1/4 lengths, captured the $100,000 Florida Sire Stakes Dr. Fager division by 3 1/4 lengths at six furlongs, and fell a head short of Liam's Lucky Charm in the $200,000 Florida Sire Stakes Affirmed division at seven furlongs. 

"There was pressure because he got beat last time, and I know how good he is. You want to prove it. It was special to see him win. There was a lot of pressure, and he delivered," Joseph said. "Visually, he did it the way you'd want him to do it. He was near the lead and on the bridle, and when he asked him to go, he ran away. He put his ears up like there's more there."

Math Wizard, a 3-year-old son of Algorithms, shipped back to Gulfstream from Parx Sept. 25 after his neck victory over Mr. Money in the Pennsylvania Derby and has resumed training.

"He's been to the track twice and galloped a mile and an eighth," Joseph said. "He came out of the race good."