Anselmo Emilio Cavalieri

Matias Cavalieri, 40, is the son of 74-year-old Anselmo Emilio Cavalieri, who bred MissSerendipity and lives in Argentina. Though he’s semi-retired, Anselmo still has 25 to 30 horses. “He’s had horses the last 30 to 35 years,” Matias said of his dad.

Matias is an investment advisory representative for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in Miami, Florida. Previously, he worked for Prudential Securities in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Citigroup, Global Markets in Miami. He was named one of the best 1,000 financial officers in America in 2010 by Wealthvest Marketing. He is married with five children, but still finds the time to be an active runner and rugby player.

Miss Serendipity’s success in her fifth North American start continues her Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally’s great run with imported horses from South America, including U.S. champions Paseana and Bayakoa. “I met the Cavalieris through Dr. Ignacio Pavlovsky,” McAnally said. Pavlovsky is a well-regarded veterinarian and racing commissioner in Argentina. Miss Serendipity’s debut in North America came in the $80,000 Paseana Stakes on dirt, when she finished fourth. Matias had attended Miss Serendipity’s two prior starts to the Gamely at Santa Anita, when she finished third in the Grade 2 Santa Ana and second by a neck in the Grade 3 Santa Barbara Handicap, but he stayed home in Florida on the day of the Gamely to watch one of his children’s soccer games with his family and his mom, who was visiting from Argentina. They watched Miss Serendipity win on his computer.

Matias’s dad, and Miss Serendipity’s owner, Anselmo was at Santa Anita to watch the Gamely. “Dad was there, and he called,” Matias said. “He was happy. He was really proud.”