Math Wizard’s future may include the Breeders’ Cup Classic

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. considers John Fenelli, a co-owner of Math Wizard, to be both ambitious and adventurous. Those traits could pair in sending the upset Pennsylvania Derby (G1) winner on to the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Joseph, who’s already back to work at Gulfstream Park after Saturday’s 31-1 upset at Parx Racing, said he’ll wait to see how Math Wizard exits his neck score over Mr. Money before acquiring the colt’s next race target.

“When I report to (Fenelli) that he’s doing good, I think that’s where he’s going to want to go,” Joseph said of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, set for Nov. 2 at Santa Anita Park. “There are so many options. We don’t have to push for the Breeders’ Cup. There’s so many races for older horses next year, like the Pegasus (World Cup) and the new race in Saudi Arabia and the Dubai World Cup.

“There are so many options that if the horse tells us, ‘No,’ we’ll listen to the horse.”

Notably, too, while the co-featured Cotillion (G1) offered a “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Distaff spot on Saturday, the Pennsylvania Derby victory did not come with a fees-paid berth to the Classic.

Math Wizard’s connections — Collamele Vitelli Stables, Bassett Stables, Ioannia Zoumas and Wynwood Thoroughbreds also campaign him — did receive the winner’s share of a $1 million purse, however.

“It was a priceless feeling,” said Joseph, a 32-year-old Barbados native. “Everyone should have that feeling. Once you get that feeling, it makes you want to keep going more and more.

“I was proud for the horse, the way he performed. On his best day, if you looked at it, he was capable, but it he had run third or fourth, I would have been happy.”

Math Wizard, who had finished third behind eventual Florida Derby (G1) winner and disqualified Kentucky Derby first-place finisher Maximum Security in a $16,000 maiden claiming race at Gulfstream last December, was claimed by owner John Fenelli for $25,000 out of an 18 ½-length victory Jan. 31 and joined Joseph’s stable. The son of Algorithms, who ships back to Gulfstream Park on Wednesday, went on to finish fourth in the Wood Memorial (G2), second in the Ohio Derby (G3) and third in the Indiana Derby (G2).

Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. for the first time Saturday, Math Wizard saved ground while sitting off the pace before making a sweeping move on the turn into the stretch.

Joseph has more to look forward to this weekend when Chance It, his barn’s star 2-year-old, goes in the $400,000 In Reality, the third leg of the 2019 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes. Chance It, who’s picking up jockey Tyler Gaffalione, won the $100,000 FSS Dr. Fager before coming up just short of holding off Liam’s Lucky Charm in the $200,000 FSS Affirmed.

Chance It’s last three victories have each earned him 91 Beyer Speed Figures. Only four 2-year-olds — Dennis’ Moment (97), Meru (95), Eight Rings (94) and Keep On Truckin’ (92) — have posted a higher number this season.

A son of Currency Swap, Chance It breezed five furlongs Sunday in 1:01.35.

“He went good. He’s maintained his fitness,” Joseph said. “It was a solid breeze. All systems go.”