Chance It Breezes Bullet Ahead of Tampa Bay Derby

Shooting Star Thoroughbreds' Chance It breezed a bullet half-mile March 2 at Gulfstream Park five days out from his expected graded stakes debut in the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2).

The Currency Swap colt was entered in the Feb. 29 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and drew the outside post, but trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. scratched the morning of the race due to the draw and opted to wait a week for the March 7 Road to the Kentucky Derby prep at Tampa Bay Downs.

On Monday, Chance It worked four furlongs in :47.28 on a fast main track, the fastest move of 23 at the distance.

"Everything went fine. He worked good, Tyler Gaffalione worked him. All's well," Joseph said. "He's going to go to Tampa now."

Chance It, a two-time winner in the Florida Sire Stakes series, faced open company for the first time Jan. 4 in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes and fought back to win by a head after losing the lead in the stretch. The victory came over As Seen On Tv, third in the Fountain of Youth, and Sole Volante, who won the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) next out and is expected back in the Tampa Bay Derby.

Qualifying Points toward a spot in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) are available on a 50-20-10-5 scale in the Tampa Bay Derby.

"I think he's that kind of horse and now he's going to get his chance to show it," Jospeh said. "We just need to have a good week. Hopefully everything goes to plan and he gets to show how good he is."

The trainer said Paco Lopez is named to ride Chance It in the Tampa Bay Derby. Gaffalione, who guided the colt to victory in his last two starts, is scheduled to ride in California.

Chance It's stablemate Math Wizard returned to the work tab Monday after his 4-year-old debut in the Feb. 17 Razorback Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park, where he finished eighth.

With Joseph's assistant Sabine Langvad aboard Monday, Math Wizard breezed a half-mile in :49.22 on Gulfstream's main track.

"Today was just an easy work, first work back, :49 and change," Joseph said. "Next week he'll pick it up a little bit."

Math Wizard—a $25,000 claim that went on to win the Pennsylvania Derby (G1)—is being aimed at a March 28 start on Dubai World Cup night. 

Baffert Works San Felipe Pair

On the West Coast, the March 7 San Felipe Stakes (G2) is the next major Kentucky Derby prep. On Monday Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert sent out a pair of 3-year-old colts at Santa Anita Park for their final works ahead of the race.

Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) and Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) winner Thousand Words worked five furlongs in :59 4/5, the second-fastest of 36 at the distance, on a fast main track. His stablemate Authentic, winner of the Sham Stakes (G3), prepped with a six-furlong move in 1:12 4/5, the fastest of five.

Baffert also sent out San Vicente Stakes (G2) winner Nadal, pointed to the March 14 Rebel Stakes (G2), for a seven-furlong work in 1:25 1/5.

His debut maiden winners Charlatan and West Sider worked seven furlongs in 1:26 3/5 and four furlongs in :47 4/5, respectively.