Sea Wizard nears return from foot injury

OCEANPORT, N.J. – The promising 3-year-old Sea Wizard is scheduled to rejoin trainer John Mazza's stable this week after injuring a foot.

In his debut, Sea Wizard finished second last October at Belmont Park to eventual Tampa Bay Derby winner and Belmont Stakes hopeful Destin. In March, he won a Gulfstream Park maiden race by three lengths.

Mazza shipped Sea Wizard to Monmouth Park from Gulfstream in late April.

"The temperature went from 85 to 45," Mazza said. "He was okay for a few days but was feeling good, and one day he kicked the wall so hard you wouldn't believe it."

Fortunately, Sea Wizard's injury was not serious. Mazza estimates that Sea Wizard will be ready to run in six or seven weeks.

"You should see all the pads I have in his stall now," said Mazza, 79.

Sea Wizard, a son of Uncle Mo, was a $190,000 2-year-old purchase by Mac Nichol at the Ocala Breeders Sales Co. in March 2015. The previous year, Nichol and Mazza bought Madefromlucky at the same sale.

After four starts, Nichol sold a 75 percent interest in Madefromlucky to the Cheyenne Stables of Everett Dobson. Madefromlucky went on to win a pair of Grade 2 races, the Peter Pan and West Virginia Derby.