He was from the eighth crop of foals sired by Deep Impact, who was the Japanese Horse of the Year in 2005 and 2006, winning races including the Tokyo Yushun, Tenno Sho, Arima Kinen and Japan Cup.

In the Grade 1 Satsuki Sho over the same distance on 15 April the colt was made the 5/2 favourite but came home seventh of the sixteen runners, almost six lengths behind the upset winner Epoca d'Oro.

On 27 May, in front of a crowd of 126,767, Wagnerian was one of eighteen colts to contest the 85th edition of the Japanese Derby over 2400 metres at Tokyo and started the 11.5/1 fifth choice in the betting behind Danon Premium, Blast Onepiece, Kitano Commandeur and Epoca d'Oro.

After tracking the leaders Wagnerian produced a sustained challenge down the centre of the course in the straight, gaining the advantage in the last 50 metres and winning by half a length from Epoca d'Oro with Cosmic Force, Etario, Blast Onepiece and Danon Premium close behind.

[11] Following a break of almost four months Wagnerian returned to the track on 23 September for the Kobe Shimbun Hai over 2400 metres at Hanshin and started the 1.7/1 joint favourite alongside Epoca d'Oro.

After racing in mid-division Wagnerian made strong progress in the straight, catching the front-running outsider Meisho Tekkon on the last 100 metres and holding off the late challenge of Etario to win by half a length.

He raced behind the leaders on the inside rail and struggled to obtain a clear run approaching the straight before finishing well to take fifth place, two and a half lengths behind the winner Lucky Lilac.

After finishing in 18th place at the Japan Cup, Wagnerian's health conditions gradually deteriorated and was hospitalized at an equine vet stable located inside the Ritto Training Center.

At around 6PM on 5 January 2022, Wagnerian died at the vet stable,[24] and after an autopsy was conducted it was revealed that the horse had an egg-sized gallstone stuck in his bile duct, which led to a multiple organ failure.