On December 20, 2018, a $16,000 maiden claiming race went off at Gulfstream Park without fanfare. It was just another race.
Lucky Seven Stables from Kentucky started their homebred colt Math Wizard for the third time, he was 2 to 1. He ran well to be third but the winner was long gone on the lead. A fellow by the name of Maximum Security.
Now it is September 2019 and not only did Maximum Security win the Florida Derby (G1), the Kentucky Derby (G1) (although disqualified) and the recent Haskell, but MATH WIZARD is now a Grade 1 winner too having won the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby Sept. 20 at Parx.
Math Wizard was claimed that December dayfrom Lucky Seven, claimed again for $16,000 when he won his maiden next time out and then claimed again for $25,000 by his current large group of owners.
Co-owned and trained by third generation Barbados born Saffie Jospeh Jr. and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Math Wizard rallied down the center of the track and shocked the field that included Preakness Stakes winner War of Will, Improbable, the beaten favorite in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness and a colt that came in with four straight wins in Mr. Money. Math Wizard went off at odds of 31-1 and paid $64.20, $12 and $4.80.
“I’ve got to retire now!” an emotional Joseph said after Math Wizard became his first Grade 1 winner in first Grade 1 start. “I feel blessed. I’m at a loss for words.”
Math Wizard won for the third time in 13 career starts. Math Wizard hadn’t won since Jan. 31 at Gulfstream, when he scored by 18 3/4 lengths and was claimed for $25,000 out of that race by his current ownership group led by John Fanelli, who calls Parx his home track.
“This is my biggest win ever,” Fanelli said. “I was screaming so loud, I lost my voice.” Fanelli owns the son of Algorithms along with Collarmele Vitelli Stables LLC, Bassett Stables, Ioannis Zoumas, Wynwood Thoroughbreds and Joseph.
Math Wizard won with a six-wide move into the stretch. He ran down the early pacemakers Mr. Money and War of Will, rallying into slow fractions. The first quarter-mile went in :24.50, the half in :49.60 and 6 furlongs in 1:13.44. With fractions that slow, it would not seem ideal for a closer.
“To me, what was surprising was that the pace was not fast and that horse came from out of it,” said Mark Casse, the trainer of War of Will. The final time for the 1 1/8 mile race over a fast track was 1:50.94. Ortiz picked up the mount Saturday. Florida-based Edgard Zayas was named to ride Math Wizard at entry time, but he was not at Parx Saturday.
Casse said of War of Will, “I didn’t see any excuses. I thought he ran pretty well, he never gave up. That was my concern after the last couple. I was proud of him today. It’s crazy, you didn’t think they were running very fast but the winner came running. I will talk to the boss (owner Gary Barber) and see what he wants to do. We had a great trip. ”
~ with files from Parx Media
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