Math Wizard likely to target Breeders' Cup Classic

Math Wizard, the upset winner of Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby, was expected to return to his home base of Gulfstream Park by midweek. The well-traveled 3-year-old will likely make one more road trip this year, that being a cross-country excursion to Southern California for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.

Majority owner John Fanelli’s insistence to send Math Wizard to the Pennsylvania Derby was rewarded when the colt rallied from last to beat Mr. Money by a neck, winning for the first time in seven starts since Math Wizard was claimed for $25,000 back in January. While the Pennsylvania Derby was not a Win and You’re In race for the Classic, the $600,000 first-place purse from the Derby will more than cover expenses.

“John’s adventurous,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said Sunday. “Once I give him the positive reports, that’s where he probably wants to go. We probably won’t decide for a little while, see how the horse is, what kind of energy he has, but if all the signs are right, definitely John’s game. He likes to take chances.”

Math Wizard has proven to be game this year. Claimed for $25,000 in January, Math Wizard has traveled to run in stakes in New York, Arkansas, Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Though he hadn’t won until Saturday, Math Wizard raced competitively in the Ohio Derby (second) and Indiana Derby (third). He was a well-beaten sixth in the West Virginia Derby, but that was his third race in six weeks.

Math Wizard had seven weeks from that race to the Pennsylvania Derby. On a deep surface, Math Wizard covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.94 and earned a 99 Beyer Speed Figure.

“I think the track being a little heavy really helped us and the time off really helped him,” Fanelli said Saturday in the winner’s circle.

Joseph said Ortiz will be given the opportunity to ride Math Wizard in the Classic. Ortiz is slated to ride Vino Rosso in Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont.

Math Wizard was beaten by Mr. Money in both the Indiana Derby and West Virginia Derby. Saturday, Mr. Money set modest fractions on the front end after the expected speed horse, Improbable, turned his head at the break and was last.

Mr. Money, under Gabriel Saez, was rank early and could never open up on his opponents. He finished second by a length over War of Will.

Mr. Money returned to trainer Bret Calhoun’s barn at Churchill Downs following an early morning flight from Allentown, Pa. to Louisville. Calhoun said there are several possibilities for Mr. Money’s next start including the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 2 or the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs on Nov. 29. Calhoun said the horse could even get a break and point to some of the big-money races at Gulfstream and in Saudi Arabia and Dubai next year.

“We’ll see how he bounces back and decide if we keep going or we freshen,” Calhoun said.

War of Will, the Preakness winner, vanned back to Belmont Park Saturday night. He will remain here until trainer Mark Casse and owner Gary Barber decide what to do next with him.

“We’re going to sit and observe for a little bit and come up with a plan,” Casse said.