Magic Attitude (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) made her Stateside debut in style with a late-surging victory as the heavy favorite in the GI Belmont Oaks Saturday, the first Grade I event of the track's fall meet. Caboosing the quintet early, the even-money favorite–who was receiving Lasix for the first time–bided her time at the back as second-choice Antoinette (Hard Spun) clocked a half-mile in :49.99. Still last entering the far turn, the bay swung out three wide in the lane and unleashed a furious rally, powering clear late for a decisive victory. Saratoga Oaks victress Antoinette held second.
“The pace was a little bit of a concern,” said winning trainer Arnaud Delacour. “With a five-horse field, you never know what's going to happen, but it didn't change her running style as that's how she likes to race. Javier [Castellano] timed it perfectly and she came with a good kick.”
On a potential start in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf Nov. 7: “We'll see. One race at a time. The [GI] Queen Elizabeth [II Challenge Cup] [Oct. 10 at Keeneland] is in 21 days and might be coming back too quick. We'll let her tell us.”
“I really like the way she did it,” jockey Javier Castellano said. “Watching the replays, it seemed like she could be a little bit keen. She always seemed to break well out of the gate and get good forward position in Europe. Today, she broke OK. I tried to cover up a little bit. It was her first time in the country and a mile and a quarter and you always have to save something for the end. She sat beautifully behind the speed. She had a nice rhythm. When I asked her turning for home at the quarter pole, she just took off really well. I was very excited to see the way she did it today.”
Graduating at second asking in France for Haras Du Saubouas and trainer Fabrice Chappet, Magic Attitude checked in third in the Criterium de Lyon 15 days later. Victorious in the G3 Prix Vanteaux in May, she was privately purchased by Roy and Gretchen Jackson's Lael Stables and was second in her first start for them in the G1 Prix Saint Alary June 14. The chestnut was fifth in her final European start in the G1 Prix de Diane July 5 for trainer Fabrice Chappet and was transferred to Delacour.
Pedigree Notes:
Magic Attitude is the 89th top-level scorer for the mighty Galileo and is bred on the same Galileo/Exceed and Excel cross as Group 1 winner Anthony Van Dyck. She is also one of 327 black-type winners and 221 graded winners for that Coolmore stalwart. Her dam, English Highweight and Group 1 winner Margot Did, is also the dam of GSW & MG1SP Mission Impassible (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Her recent produce includes the juvenile colt Pietrasanta (Jpn) (Frankel {GB}), who brought ¥210,000,000–the equivalent of $1,936,200–at the JRHA Yearling and Foal Sale; and a yearling colt by Heart's Cry (Jpn).
Saturday, Belmont Park
BELMONT OAKS INVITATIONAL S.-GI, $242,500, Belmont, 9-19, 3yo, f, 1 1/4mT, 2:01.14, fm.
1–MAGIC ATTITUDE (GB), 121, f, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Margot Did (Ire) (Hwt. Filly at 3-Eng at 5- 7f.,
G1SW-Eng, $425,664), by Exceed And Excel (Aus)
2nd Dam: Special Dancer (GB), by Shareef Dancer
3rd Dam: Caraniya (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST GRADE I WIN. (€850,000 RNA Ylg '18 ARAUG). O-Lael
Stables; B-Katsumi Yoshida (GB); T-Arnaud Delacour; J-Javier
Castellano. $137,500. Lifetime Record: GSW & G1SP-Fr,
7-3-1-1, $245,437. *Full to Mission Impassible (Ire), GSW &
G1SP-Fr, GISP-US, $312,159. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple
Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Antoinette, 121, f, 3, by Hard Spun&log=">Hard Spun
1st Dam: Shuruq, by Elusive Quality
2nd Dam: Miss Lucifer (Fr), by Noverre
3rd Dam: Devil's Imp (Ire), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-William I. Mott. $50,000.
3–Neige Blanche (Fr), 121, f, 3, by Anodin (Ire)
1st Dam: Bianca Neve (Fr), by Muhtathir (GB)
2nd Dam: Polomia, by General Assembly
3rd Dam: Rampolda (Fr), by Saint Cyrien (Fr)
O-Madaket Stables LLC, Marsha Naify & Laura De Seroux;
B-Ecurie du Sud (FR); T-Leonard Powell. $30,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, 2 1/4, 1. Odds: 1.15, 1.35, 5.20.
Also Ran: Setting the Mood, Key Biscayne.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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