Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Math Wizard figures in return
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The 4-year-olds Math Wizard, Joevia, and Warrior’s Charge are among the contenders in a highly competitive renewal of the Grade 3, $500,000 Razorback at Oaklawn Park on Monday.
“We expect a tough race,” said Gregg Sacco, who trains New York shipper Joevia.
The Razorback shares a card with the Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest and Grade 3, $200,000 Bayakoa, with all three 1 1/16mile stakes intended to produce starters for the Racing Festival of the South here in April.
Pioneer Spirit is the 120-pound highweight in the Razorback and one of 10 stakes winners in the field of 11. The group includes $2 million earner Bravazo; Grade 3 winners Campaign, Guest Suite and Rated R Superstar; and inaugural Oaklawn Mile winner Exulting.
RAZORBACK (RACE 8) KEY CONTENDERS
Math Wizard, by Algorithms
Last 3 Beyers: 91-99-82
◗ Math Wizard is the lone Grade 1 winner in the field, having won the Pennsylvania Derby in September. He proceeded to the Breeders’ Cup Classic and ran fifth to close out a 3-year-old campaign in which he earned $1 million.
“Hopefully, he’ll improve as a 4-year-old,” said trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. “We’re waiting to see if he’ll take the next step from 3 to 4. You always want to see them develop and get to that next level. Hopefully he can.”
◗ Math Wizard has turned in a strong series of works for his first start back, including a bullet five furlongs in 1:00 at his Gulfstream Park base Feb. 3.
“Hopefully, he’s fit enough to
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run a good race, something to build on to go to the next one,” said Joseph, who would like to advance to Dubai with Math Wizard.
◗ Javier Castellano has the mount from post 2.
“We’ll leave it to Javier Castellano to put him where he needs to be,” said Joseph.
Joevia, by Shanghai Bobby
Last 3 Beyers: 94-93-89
◗ He made some Triple Crown noise last year when he finished third in the Belmont Stakes, beaten just a length and threequarters. Joevia has made one start since the June 8 classic, capturing an allowance sprint Jan. 17 at Aqueduct.
“Anytime you come back off a layoff, you have some question marks,” Sacco said. “He trained very well going into the race. We expected a good effort and he came through for us, ran a dynamite race off the shelf. He wasn’t cranked over the moon. He’s fit and happy going into this race, had some super nice works at Belmont.”
◗ Joevia on Monday moves back to the distance of his biggest win, the Long Branch at Monmouth. He will break from post 4 under Junior Alvarado.
“He’s got good gate speed, and I think he’ll be forwardly placed,” Sacco said. “He can stalk. He doesn’t need the lead.
“There’s a little rain in the long-range forecast, and he’s 2 for 2 in the mud.”
◗ Joevia is Sacco’s first local starter, and could return in April for the Grade 2, $1 million
Oaklawn Handicap.
Warrior’s Charge, by Munnings
Last 3 Beyers: 90-94-98
◗ He was a close fourth in last year’s Preakness, which came following a pair of 1 1/16-mile wins at Oaklawn. He will break from post 8.
“He likes to be close,” said trainer Brad Cox. “He set the pace in the Preakness and he’s got a lot of natural speed. We don’t try to take that away from him. He’ll definitely be forwardly placed.”
Bankit, by Central Banker
Last 3 Beyers: 97-93-91
◗ He was second by a head to Pioneer Spirit in a division of the Fifth Season last month at Oaklawn.
“I thought he was unlucky to lose,” said trainer Steve Asmussen.