Math Wizard Could Point Towards Saudi Cup

Math Wizard, the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) winner who finished fifth in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita Park, returned to the Gulfstream Park work tab Dec. 22 with a three-furlong breeze.

The graded stakes winner was set to breeze Dec. 29 for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., but the scheduled work was scratched from the colt's training schedule due to an elevated temperature. 

"He spiked a temperature Thursday," Joseph said. "He's fine. He's going to breeze next week."

Owned in partnership by John Fanelli, Khalid Mishref, Cash is King, LC Racing, Collarmele Vitelli Stables, Ioannis Zoumas, and Bassett Stables, the son of Algorithms  is being pointed to the $20 Million Saudi Cup Feb. 29, but the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Jan. 25 is a possibility.

"It makes it a little bit more difficult, but he's fit. He had a hard campaign," Joseph said. "He's maintained his fitness well. The goal is the Saudi Cup, but the Pegasus is in play."

While Math Wizard sat out Sunday morning, stablemate Chance It turned in a sizzling half-mile workout at Gulfstream in preparation for the Jan. 4  Mucho Macho Man Stakes.

The Mucho Macho Man, a one-mile stakes for newly turned 3-year-olds that will be one of four stakes for sophomores on Saturday's card, will kick off Gulfstream's highly productive program for 3-year-olds, culminating March 28 with the Florida Derby (G1).

Owned by Shooting Star Thoroughbreds, the highly promising FTBOA Florida Sire In Reality Stakes winner breezed a half-mile in :46.12 over a 'good' track to be the fastest of 112 workouts at the four-furlong distance Saturday.

"He had a good work, sat off another horse, finished up well, and galloped out strong," trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. "Tyler Gaffalione was aboard. We're happy with where we're at. He came back good, scoped good. We're ready to go."

Chance It most recently captured the $400,000 In Reality Stakes, the 1 1/16-mile finale of the 2019 Florida Sire Stakes Series at Gulfstream, by 7 1/4 lengths. The son of Currency Swap also won the $100,000 Dr. Fager Stakes and finished second in the $200,000 Affirmed Stakes in the lucrative series for Florida-bred 2-year-olds.

Chance It, who finished second in his June 1 debut, bounced back to offer a brilliant 9 1/4-length triumph at Gulfstream June 29. The Florida-bred colt won the 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race in 1:03.95 while being wrapped up in the stretch, earning the fastest speed figure in the country produced by 2-year-old at the time, and one that he matched in the Dr. Fager.

Joseph said he couldn't be happier with Chance It's physical appearance as he nears his 3-year-old debut.

"He looks really good in the flesh. He has a really good coat. The colder weather has helped him a lot. He's really enjoying the cooler weather."

Chance It will likely receive a strong test in the Mucho Macho Man, which will also mark the return of Stonehedge's Smash Factor, who debuted with a victory over Chance It in June. The gelded son of Khozan  went on to finish second to Chance It in the In Reality and, most recently, finished second in the Nov. 8 Juvenile Sprint Stakes for Florida-bred freshman at Gulfstream Park West.

Screen Door Stables' As Seen On Tv, who defeated Smash Factor in the Juvenile Sprint; Sagamore Farm's South Bend, the Street Sense Stakes winner who finished sixth in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs last time out; Andie Biancone and Limelight Table Corp.'s Sole Volante, an undefeated gelding who won the Pulpit on turf last time out; Shadwell Stable's Ashaar, an impressive debut winner who returned to finish fifth in the Nashua (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack last time out; and Santa Rosa Racing Stables' Inter Miami, who debuted with an 8 1/2-length victory Dec. 4; are expected to run in the Mucho Macho Man.