NEWS
Fast-finishing Magical Fantasy rallies to Gamely score
Posted: Saturday, May 30, 2009 9:15 PM
MAGICAL FANTASY
Benoit & Associates photo
To view the Gamely Stakes, click here.
by Mike Curry
Magical Fantasy closed with a sustained rush from the outside and overhauled runner-up Visit (GB) and third-place finisher Diamond Diva (GB) in the final strides to win the $319,000 Gamely Stakes (G1) by a neck on Saturday at Hollywood Park.
The four-year-old Diesis (GB) filly was reserved near the back of the nine-horse field and started her winning move on the final turn in the 1 1/8-mile turf race for fillies and mares. Jockey Alex Solis angled Magical Fantasy to the outside entering the stretch and she uncoiled her winning bid to land her second Grade 1 victory.
"She's such a professional, you can do anything you want with her. She's really game and she's getting better and better,” Solis said. “At the top of the stretch, I thought I had a good chance to win the race and I just wanted to make sure that I moved steadily and not make one strong move.”
Trained by Patrick Gallagher for owners David Bienstock, Paul Mandabach, and Charles Winner, Magical Fantasy completed the distance on firm turf in 1:48.18 to prevail at 6.10-to-1 odds.
Magical Fantasy won the Santa Barbara Handicap (G2) by a nose over Gamely opponent Black Mamba (NZ) in her previous start on April 18 at Santa Anita Park.
Winner of the 2008 Del Mar Oaks (G1), Magical Fantasy finished second in the La Canada Stakes (G2) on February 15 and fourth in the Santa Margarita Handicap (G1) in March 14, both on the synthetic Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita Park, before regaining her best form on the grass in the Santa Barbara.
Diamond Diva (GB) broke alertly as the 2-to-1 favorite and went to the front but was quickly overtaken by Ainamaa, who set the tempo through an opening quarter in :24.23 and a half-mile in :48.74. Visit rated in fifth while Solis positioned Magical Fantasy in seventh. Joel Rosario reserved Grade 1 winner Black Mamba (NZ) at the back of the field.
Diamond Diva accelerated on the turn and seized command in early stretch and Visit rallied gamely to challenge on the outside, but Magical Fantasy surged past near the finish to score.
Visit nipped Diamond Diva by a nose for second. Black Mamba could not quicken with the top three and finished another 1 1/4 lengths back in fourth.
Magical Fantasy improved to four wins in 15 career starts and boosted her earnings to $649,231. She is out of the winning Easy Goer mare Kissing Gate.
“We'll probably space out her races; we'll see if there's something here or at Del Mar,” Gallagher said. “She seems to run good with just a little bit of time in between races. There are lots of races; we just have to pick the right one."
For an Equibase chart, click here.
To view the Gamely Stakes, click here.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
