Math Wizard Returns in Razorback at Oaklawn Park

There was a time when trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. believed he would be spending this weekend making final preparations to send Math Wizard to Saudi Arabia for a $20 million race on the last day in February.

But when an invite to the inaugural Saudi Cup failed to pop up in his mailbox, he had to shift gears and target a lesser but nonetheless lucrative prize by running his 4-year-old grade 1 winner in the $500,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) Feb. 17 at Oaklawn Park.

"I thought we had an invite to the Saudi Cup, and one never came," Joseph said. "It was a bit of a disappointment, but I don't have regrets."

Instead of heading to the Middle East this month, Joseph is hoping the 1 1/16-mile Razorback will punch the Algorithms  colt's ticket to that region in March for a race at Meydan on the March 28 Dubai World Cup Day card.

"Everything happens for a reason," Joseph said. "If we go to Dubai after this, it will be very nice. We have an invite to the mile race (Godolphin Mile Sponsored by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum City—District One, G2), and perhaps we'll get one to the (Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline, G1), depending on how we run."

The Razorback will mark Math Wizard's first start in about 3 1/2 months, dating to a fifth-place finish in the Nov. 2 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). That start came on the heels of a breakthrough victory in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) by a colt who was third in the famed Dec. 20, 2018, $16,000 maiden claiming race that featured 2019 3-year-old champion Maximum Security.

"It was a deep track and hard to make up ground (at the Breeders' Cup). When you run fifth you're normally not happy, but I would say we were not disappointed. He had some solid horses behind him. It was his first race against older horses, and he held his own," Joseph said. "He's doing great now. In his final work, he galloped out in 1:13 (officially five furlongs in 1:01.02 Feb. 10 at Gulfstream Park). Everything seems good. We're glad to get him back started. His coat is looking as good as it ever has, and he's added a little more weight."

Owned by the conglomerate of John Fanelli, Collarmele Vitelli Stables, Bassett Stables, Ioannis Zoumas, Wynwood Thoroughbreds, and Joseph, Math Wizard has advanced from a $25,000 claim by Joseph and Fanelli in January 2019 to a winner of three of 14 starts and $1,040,623 in earnings.

With Javier Castellano aboard, Math Wizard will break from post 2 in a field of 11. He was assigned 118 pounds, two less than highweight Pioneer Spirit.

Calumet Farm's Bravazo was also targeting the Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup, but trainer D. Wayne Lukas shifted gears and opted for a winter campaign in Arkansas. Winless in his past 12 starts, the 2018 Preakness Stakes (G1) runner-up and earner of $2,012,528 started 2020 with a fifth-place finish in the second division of the Jan. 25 Fifth Season Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

Assigned 117 pounds, the 5-year-old son of Awesome Again will break from the outside post.

Heads Up Racing Stable's Pioneer Spirit comes into the Razorback off three consecutive wins. He's trained by Robertino Diodoro, who is winning at a 40% clip at the Oaklawn meet.

Claimed for $150,000 three starts ago at Churchill Downs, Pioneer Spirit exits a head victory over Razorback starter Bankit in the second division of the Fifth Season.

Pioneer Spirit, a son of Malibu Moon  who will be ridden by David Cohen, landed post 5, and Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing's New York-bred Bankit, a son of Central Banker , has post 3 and Ricardo Santana Jr.

The Razorback will also mark a return to graded stakes company for Warrior's Charge. 

Owned by Ten Strike Racing and Madaket Stables and trained by Brad Cox, the son of Munnings  set the pace in last year's Preakness before settling for fourth. A bout of colic kept him sidelined for seven months until he returned Dec. 18 with a frontrunning two-length victory in a Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots allowance-level race. 

A winner of two of four starts at Oaklawn, the speedy Warrior's Charge drew post 6 and will carry 117 pounds, including jockey Florent Geroux.

"We expected him to run well (in the comeback race), and he did. We had it in the back of our minds that we would get a race in and point for the Razorback, and it's worked out. He's training very well, and we're super happy with the way he came out of the last race," Cox said. "I think he's improved since last year. I'm confident he'll run well. He's an honest horse, and he likes Oaklawn."

Though Warrior's Charge has been the early leader in the majority of his seven starts, Cox said the 4-year-old does not need to be in front to do his best running.

"He'll have something to do with the pace scenario, but he doesn't have to be on the lead," Cox said. "I expect him to be forwardly placed at a comfortable cruising speed."

Other entrants include Michael and Jeff Fazio's Joevia, who was third in the 2019 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1), and Contreras Stable and David Rodriguez's Guest Suite and Bloom Racing Stable's Snapper Sinclair, who finished 1-2 in the first division of the First Season.