TDN RISING STARS

January 5, 2024 - Tampa Bay Downs, Race 6, Msw, USD $53,000, 6F

Ari's Magic, C, 3, 2021 by Good Magic

1st Dam: Ari the Adventurer, by Pioneerof the Nile
2nd Dam: Wild Catseye, by Forest Wildcat
3rd Dam: A Real Eye Opener, by Cutlass

Owner: LSU Stables
Breeder: Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY)
Trainer: Christophe Clement

LSU Stables' Ari's Magic (c, 3, Good Magic–Ari the Adventurer, by Pioneerof the Nile) looked to be spinning his wheels for the better part of the opening half-mile of his Friday unveiling at Tampa Bay Downs, but surged to the front under a massive head of steam with a furlong to race and widened from there to earn 'TDN Rising Star' honors.

Samy Camacho was named to ride, but it was Oisin Murphy at the controls aboard the 9-10 pick, who bounced alertly from gate seven, but was almost immediately under a ride, with just two of his eight rivals behind him through the opening exchanges. Busily ridden into the turn, the $150,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $725,000 OBS March breezer continued to chart a wide course on the bend, but was making some forward progress.

Still with plenty of work to do when five or perhaps six paths off the inside running rail in upper stretch, Ari's Magic found his best stride, inhaled pacesetting Snowname (The Big Beast) just inside the eighth pole and skipped away to graduate by four lengths before going farther clear on the gallop out. The debuting Vino Santo (Bucchero) sat an inside trip and boxed on well for second while no menace to the winner. Ari's Magic is a third 'Rising Star' for his Hill 'n' Dale-based stallion.