Math Wizard Breezes at Gulfstream for Breeders' Cup

Math Wizard, who pulled off a 31-1 upset victory in the Sept. 21 Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Parx Racing, returned to the work tab Oct. 13 and breezed three furlongs in :35 4/5 at Gulfstream Park in preparation for a scheduled start in the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita Park Nov. 2.

"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," trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. 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, who finished third behind eventual Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1) winner and disqualified Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) first-place finisher Maximum Security in a $16,000 maiden claiming race at Gulfstream in December, was claimed by owner John Fanelli for $25,000 out of an 18 1/2-length victory Jan. 31 and joined Joseph's stable. The 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).

Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. for the first time in the Pennsylvania Derby, Math Wizard saved ground while sitting off the pace before making a sweeping move on the turn into the stretch and prevailing over Mr. Money by a neck.

"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.

Joseph-trained Chance It, the highly regarded winner of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes In Reality Division at Gulfstream last out, will skip the $2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Nov. 1 and is instead being pointed to the Nov. 30 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs.

Chance It, who also won the FSS Dr. Fager Division, is owned by Shooting Star Thoroughbreds, which is managed by longtime trainer Mary Lightner.

"Mary wants to give him more space between his races," Joseph said.

Patrick Biancone Racing, Diamond 100 Racing Club, Amy Dunne, and DP Racing's Diamond Oops, who is grade 1-placed on dirt and turf in his two most recent starts, is being pointed to the $1 million Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) Nov. 2.

"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, who won the June 29 Smile Sprint Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream, finished second in the July 27 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, four lengths behind Imperial Hint and 3 1/2 lengths ahead of Mitole. The 4-year-old son of Lookin At Lucky  moved to the turf Oct. 5 at Keeneland, where he finished second in the Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (G1T), in which he set a pressured paced before falling to Bowies Hero by three-quarters of a length.

"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."

Diamond Oops won three of his first four starts as a 2-year-old before going to the sidelines with an injury that kept him in his stall at Palm Meadows Training Center for several months.

"He had a pulled flexor in his pastern. It is very rare—the first time I've seen that," Biancone said. "My partners have been very patient, and now he's just showing up. He has to improve—he lost so many months of training at 3. Every race he seems to get better and better. Hopefully, he'll keep going. He'd better."

At Gulfstream Park West Sunday morning, Matalona Thoroughbreds' Stormy Embrace breezed five furlongs in 1:03 2/5 for a scheduled start in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) Nov. 2. The Kathleen O'Connell-trained mare won a fees-paid berth in the race by defending her title in the June 29 Princess Rooney Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream.