Connections settle on BC Classic for Math Wizard
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said Sunday that Pennsylvania Derby winner Math Wizard will make his next start in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 2 rather than the Dirt Mile, which had also been under consideration for the former claimer.
Math Wizard turned in the first of his three scheduled workouts for the Classic on Sunday morning at Gulfstream Park.
"The Classic for sure," Joseph said a short while after the work. "The owner wants to go to the Classic. He sold some shares in him, and they want to go to the Classic for sure."
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Joseph said he is still shopping around for a rider for Math Wizard in the Classic. Irad Ortiz Jr. rode him to victory in the Pennsylvania Derby but is already committed to Vino Rosso for the Classic, according to Joseph.
"The rider is still up for grabs," said Joseph. "We're going to see what everyone is doing and we'll make a decision who we want to use after that."
Edgard Zayas, who rode Math Wizard to second- and third-place finishes in the Ohio Derby and Indiana Derby, respectively, earlier this year, was aboard for the work on Sunday. Math Wizard broke at the three-furlong pole and went easily to the wire in 35.71 seconds before galloping out very strongly into and around the turn. He completed a half-mile in 48.31 and five-eighths in 1:01.35 before pulling up a complete six furlongs in 1:15.50.
"He worked well and galloped out really strong," said Joseph. "He's a good work horse, but for him, that's as good as he could work. It was his first work back since his last start and that's all you want to see for the moment, but he's in really good form right now."
Joseph said Math Wizard would have two more works before the Classic, a half-mile next week and five furlongs here the following Sunday before taking a FedEx flight to Santa Anita on Tuesday, Oct. 29.
"The plane stops and lays over in Memphis, Tennessee, so it's a 14-hour trip all together," said Joseph. "It's not ideal, but it's better than the alternative, which was to van him to Lexington and fly to Los Angeles from there. The van ride alone is 14 hours."
