Joseph, aiming for training title, high on Math Wizard

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – After winning 27 races during the 2018-19 championship meet, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. set his sights high for the current spring session, which runs through June 30.

“Our main goal was to win the training title at this meet, and so far everything is working out well,” said Joseph, who entered the week with a dozen victories and a four-win cushion atop the standings. “I’ve got very supportive owners, a good team, and so far I am very pleased with the way things have been going to this point.”

Joseph’s stable is up to 50 horses, primarily claiming runners, and it is the former claimer Math Wizard who has quickly become the stable star. Joseph took the 3-year-old son of Algorithms for $25,000 out of a sensational 18 1/2-length victory going a mile here Jan. 31. In his last two outings, Math Wizard finished fourth, beaten 4 1/2 lengths by Tacitus, in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial and fourth as the 5-2 favorite in the Oaklawn Park Invitational, both at 1 1/8 miles.

“He ran big the day we claimed him, and I think he’s improved even further since we stretched him out around two turns,” said Joseph. “He was a May foal who seems to be getting better with experience and a horse we just happened to take at just the right time.”

Math Wizard had his first work since returning home following the Oaklawn Invitational here Sunday, going an easy half-mile from the three-eighths pole in 48.98 while finishing full of run into the turn.

“He had to ship twice for his last two races, so I wanted to take it easy with him his first work back, and he did a bit more than I wanted, but everything is good,” said Joseph. “Right now, we’re thinking maybe the Ohio Derby next, and I’d like to get a nice series of works into him here before the race.”

The Grade 3, $500,000 Ohio Derby will highlight the 2019 Thistledown season June 22.

Bern’ James Bern in allowance

Joseph will have a good chance to add to his lead in the trainer standings when he sends out Bern’ James Bern as the likely favorite in Friday’s $47,000 allowance/optional-claiming headliner at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Bern’ James Bern, claimed by Joseph for $35,000 for owner Frank Calabrese on Jan. 23, is coming off a pair of frustrating second-place finishes, both going 1 1/8 miles on grass.

He figures to get his sternest test Friday from Toughest ‘Ombre, who missed by a nose to the hard-knocking Wingman under a $25,000 claiming tag two starts back and was third after encountering some traffic issues in his latest outing April 28.

Franklin Towers and First Spring are among the other key contenders in a field that also includes Scraps, Break in the Storm, False Accusation, and Basha.

Zayas riding high

While Joseph holds a fairly comfortable advantage in the spring trainer standings, Edgard Zayas has built an even larger lead in the jockey standings, having won 11 races last week, including four each last Thursday and Friday. Zayas, who missed several months after breaking his leg in a riding mishap Dec. 30, entered the week with 42 victories from 199 mounts.

“Last week was a great week. I was on the best horses, and at this point I’m feeling 100 percent,” said Zayas, who will ride Bern’ James Bern on Friday. “I just keep trying to work hard and keep trying to get the best trip for the horses, and if you do that and you’re on the best horse, you’re going to win.”

Zayas said he was prepared to come back strong this spring after a long recuperation period and, like Joseph, set a goal of winning the spring title.

“So far, so good, but it’s not over. I have to keep working hard and keep grinding,” said Zayas. “Hopefully, I can also get some nice horses this year, some 2-year-olds, and see if we can go out of town and win some big races.”