Math Wizard works for possible Harlan’s Holiday start
Claimer-turned-Grade 1 winner Math Wizard, unraced since finishing fifth in the Sept. 5 Woodward (G1) at Saratoga, breezed five furlongs Sunday for a possible start in the $100,000 Harlan’s Holiday (G2) on Dec. 12.
The 4-year-old Algorithms colt, winless with one second in five starts this year, was timed in 1:02.47 over a fast Gulfstream Park main track, ninth-fastest of 15 horses. It was his fourth breeze, all at Gulfstream, since returning to the work tab Nov. 1.
“He went well. I got him in 1:01 and four,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “That was it. We just wanted a nice, long, steady work, not too quick, so it was perfect. We’ll see how he is in the morning. There’s a possibility that he runs in the Harlan’s Holiday.”
The 1 1/16-mile Harlan’s Holiday for 3-year-olds and up is one of five stakes, four graded, worth $575,000 in purses on the Dec. 12 program at Gulfstream, topped by the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2), a prep for the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) Jan. 23.
Math Wizard is owned by John Fanelli, Khalid Mishref, Cash is King, LC Racing, Collarmele Vitelli Stables, Ionnis Zoumas and Bassett Stables. He ran second in the Monmouth Cup (G3) July 18 but was given time off after fifth-place efforts in the Charles Town Classic (G2) and Woodward.
Math Wizard won three of 10 starts and more than $1 million in purse earnings in 2019, running second in the Ohio Derby (G3) and third in the Indiana Derby (G3) before his breakthrough triumph in the Pennsylvania Derby — Joseph’s first career Grade 1 victory.
Math Wizard bypassed Saturday’s $150,000 Claiming Crown Jewel, which was won by Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile runner-up and Preakness show finisher Jesus’ Team.
“We gave him a little break after the Woodward, and he took a little longer to come around than we wanted. Initially we were pointing to the Claiming Crown,” Joseph said. “It just seemed like we didn’t get him fit enough and we had an extra week to the Harlan’s Holiday. That looks like the plan right now. It’s not definite yet, but it’s in play.”
Joseph earned his first Claiming Crown victory with 50-1 long shot High Noon Rider in the $95,000 Emerald, also finishing second in the $95,000 Tiara with Sugar Fix and $85,000 Rapid Transit with Town Classic, and third with Combination in the $75,000 Express.
“Everybody seemed to bounce out good so far. We had a tough beat with Town Classic, but for the most part every horse basically ran their race,” Joseph said. “We had a couple seconds and thirds, but everybody ran their races. [Winning] was the icing on the cake. That was the best.”