The planning adds up to Math Wizard heading to Oaklawn's Razorback

You might need to be a math wizard to calculate Math Wizard’s travel schedule in 2019.

As for the Reader’s Digest version, Math Wizard made three starts at Gulfstream Park between January and February, a start at Aqueduct in April, a start in May at Oaklawn, a start in June at Thistledown, a start in July at Indiana Grand, a start in August at Mountaineer, a start in September at Parx and a start in November at Santa Anita.

That final count? Ten races, eight tracks, eight states, three time zones and two coasts.

“It was pretty fun,” co-owner Taylor Bassett said Wednesday afternoon.

Math Wizard is scheduled to return to Oaklawn for the Grade 3, $500,000 Razorback Handicap for older horses Feb. 17, a 1 1/16-mile race that will mark the 4-year-old debut for the well-traveled son of Algorithms.

Math Wizard rewarded his many owners – Bassett Stables is among seven entities that have a piece of the colt – by earning more than $1 million last year, largely on the strength of a victory in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1) Sept. 21 at Parx and a fifth-place finish in his last start, the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.

Bassett said Math Wizard’s connections, including trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., had hoped to parlay that resume into a start in the $20 million Saudi Cup – the world’s richest race – Feb. 29 in Saudi Arabia. But Bassett said when it became apparent late last month that Math Wizard wouldn’t receive an invitation to the Saudi Cup, the colt was re-routed to the Razorback, a major local prep for the $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) April 18. Math Wizard also missed a potential start in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Jan. 25 at Gulfstream, Bassett said, because of uncertainly involving an invitation to that race.

“It was kind of disappointing because after the Breeders’ Cup the whole plan was to train up to the race in Saudi and maybe get a prep at Gulfstream before heading over there,” Bassett said. “Obviously, we could have considered the Pegasus World Cup if we were kind of given more of a heads up. They kind of told us a little bit late that we were far down on the list of potential invitees, so we kind of re-directed to Oaklawn. The horse seemed to get over the track well the last time there and we’re familiar with it. It seems like a good spot to get our campaign started and maybe a possible start in the Dubai World Cup if he runs well there.”

Math Wizard, as the 5-2 favorite, finished fourth in the inaugural $300,000 Oaklawn Invitational last May. Laughing Fox won the race to earn an automatic berth into the Preakness and finished fifth in the second leg of racing’s Triple Crown.

A true rags-to-riches story, Math Wizard had been claimed for $25,000 early last year at Gulfstream Park by Joseph on behalf of the colt’s majority owner, John Fanelli. Bassett, 26, said he purchased a minority share in the colt about two weeks later.

Bassett, involved in the banking industry in Tampa, Fla., also manages Bassett Stables, which he said has about 15 partners in on Math Wizard. After being claimed, Math Wizard also ran second in the $500,000 Ohio Derby (G3) June 22 at Thistledown and third in the $500,000 Indiana Derby (G3) July 13 at Indiana Grand.

The seven entities that own Math Wizard include Cash is King LLC of Chuck Zacney. Cash is King has campaigned, among others, 2005 champion 3-year-old male and Arkansas Derby winner Afleet Alex.

“We’ve had issues with that before,” Bassett said of including all the owner’s names in the track program. “The Breeders’ Cup fit them all in on the program.”

Bassett said it’s important that Math Wizard performs well in the Razorback since it could lead to an invitation to the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) March 28 in the United Arab Emirates. Math Wizard’s dam, Minister’s Baby, was a two-time winner at the 2001 Oaklawn meeting for trainer Pete Vestal and owner Mike Mackin (Lucky Seven Stable), who bred Math Wizard.  

“I would say we’d have to run good at Oaklawn in the Razorback to have any shot of running well in the Dubai World Cup,” Bassett said. “I don’t think he would send him over there off a poor effort. More anxious to get the season started with him. We think he’s kind of developing into a nice horse and he’ll be a nice older horse for us this year.”

Math Wizard recorded a 5-furlong bullet workout (1:00.03) Monday at Gulfstream Park.

Nominations to the Razorback closed Thursday. Other early projected starters include locally based millionaire Bravazo and Warrior’s Charge, who ran fourth in last year’s Preakness.