Preakness berth up for grabs in Oaklawn Invitational

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – A free berth into the Preakness Stakes is on the line Saturday in $300,000 Oaklawn Invitational.

The winner of Oaklawn Park’s newest race for 3-year-olds will be able to run in the Preakness provided he’s nominated to the Triple Crown.

Harvey Wallbanger, winner of the Grade 2 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park, is part of a field of 11 that includes Roiland, third in the Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds; Math Wizard, fourth in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct; and Laughing Fox, fourth in the Arkansas Derby.

The Oaklawn Invitational, at 1 1/8 miles, leads a closing-day program of 12 races. The card also includes the $200,000 Arkansas Breeders’ Championship, led by Hoonani Road. The forecast calls for a 50 percent chance of morning showers with a high of 76 degrees.

Math Wizard should vie for favoritism following his effort in the Wood, with the top three finishers from that race all running back Saturday in the Kentucky Derby. Math Wizard earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 90 – the best last-race number in the Oaklawn Invitational.

“He made a long, sustained run,” said trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. “He ran a huge race.”

Math Wizard was a $25,000 claim in January by owners John Fanelli, Collarmele Vitelli Stables, Basset Stables, Ioannis Zoumas, and Wynwood Thoroughbreds. The horse won that day by 18 1/2 lengths in a one-turn mile at Gulfstream.

“He had won a race before and we figured he was at least worth $25,000, and we thought he could get better going longer,” said Joseph, who is also a part-owner of the colt. “He was a horse with upside. His dam was really good going two turns. She was a Grade 3 winner.”

Math Wizard, by Algorithms, made his two-turn debut in the Wood. He is not Triple Crown nominated, but that can change, said Joseph, who won the 2009 Barbados Triple Crown with Areutalkintome.

“I think if we were fortunate to win this race, we would strongly consider it,” he said.

Edgard Zayas has the mount from post 4.

Harvey Wallbanger was the toast of the Triple Crown trail in early February, when he closed from 10 lengths back to win the Holy Bull. One start later, he finished eighth in the Florida Derby, won wire to wire by Maximum Security.

“I’m not sure the pace in the Florida Derby did him any favors,” said trainer Ken McPeek.

Harvey Wallbanger has made one additional start, finishing seventh in the Grade 3 Lexington at 1 1/16 miles April 13 at Keeneland. He will be adding blinkers Saturday.

“It’s to keep him focused,” said McPeek. “I think this is a good race for him. I love the mile and an eighth.”

David Cohen will be aboard Harvey Wallbanger for the first time when the pair starts from post 3, and he was a logical choice for the mount, said McPeek.

“David’s been riding well over that track,” he said.

McPeek and Cohen also have history, having won the Travers together in 2012 with Golden Ticket, who finished in a dead heat with Alpha.

Laughing Fox leads a contingent of four starters from the barn of trainer Steve Asmussen that also includes stakes winner Shang, the stakes-placed Wicked Indeed, and the promising Comedian.

◗ Hoonani Road will have to overcome post 14 if he is to improve his Oaklawn record to 7 for 7 in the Arkansas Breeders’ Championship. The 1 1/16-mile race is for 3-year-olds and up bred in Arkansas. Hoonani Road won at the distance in an Oaklawn allowance on April 14. Channing Hill has the mount for Jerry Caroom and trainer Wayne Catalano.