Father’s Day Weekend Saw Many Tight Victories for Virginia-Breds

It was a weekend of close calls for Virginia-bred and owned horses as six reached the winner’s circle by beating their closest rival by less than a length — and three of those were by just a neck.

The trio of tight neck victories were authored respectively by Mr. Magic Please, Power Driven and Disco Barbie, who turned the tables on Cactus Kris in Sunday’s $100,000 Satin and Lace Stakes at Presque Isle — Cactus Kris beat Disco Barbie by a neck a year ago in the same stakes.

Disco Barbie heads toward the wire in Sunday's Satin and Lace Stakes at Presque Isle. Photo by Coady Photography.
Disco Barbie heads toward the wire in Sunday’s Satin and Lace Stakes at Presque Isle. Photo by Coady Photography.

On Sunday, Disco Barbie raced unhurried early on against a field of seven others at a 5 1/2 furlong distance. The 6 year old daughter of Pure Prize angled inside, cut the corner into the stretch, gained a short lead with a furlong left and held on for her 7th career victory. Owned by Virginian Diane Manning and out of the Grand Slam mare, Cimmaron Lady, Disco Barbie’s lifetime bankroll increased to $441,536. In just three starts this year, she has a pair of wins and $79,800 in purse earnings. Her goal later this year is the Grade 2 Presque Isle Masters Stakes.

Mr. Magic Please is based at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan’s Marquis Downs, and the 4 year old Street Magician gelding got to the winner’s circle there Friday by finishing a neck better than Sarah’s Prince. He was third throughout the $4,100 six furlong waiver claiming race and just got up in the final strides to capture his second of the year and fourth win overall. Mr. Magic Please, out of the Nureyev mare, Dance Gaily, was bred by Blue Lotus Breeding & Racing, LLC and Cheris Anne Treptow.

Power Driven, a 3 year old colt that did not race in his freshman campaign, got his first lifetime win during Saturday evening’s Stephen Foster Handicap card under the lights at Churchill Downs. The Harlan’s Holiday colt, bred by the Audley Farms, chased the pace early, swung into the six path in the turn and rallied down the lane to win by a neck over Providence in the $36,000 maiden claiming six furlong sprint. The Wayne Catalano trainee was in for a claiming price of $75,000. He is out of the Yes It’s True mare, Midtown Miss.

Virginia-bred Everything Magic won her second straight race yesterday at Pimlico for owner/breeder Larry Johnson and trainer Mike Trombetta.

The 3 year old daughter of Street Sense won the 5 1/2 furlong, $42,000 allowance optional claiming event by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:05.72. She was fourth heading into the turn, took aim in mid-turn, got to the front at the head of the stretch and never looked back. Rider Julian Pimentel guided the big effort atop Everything Magic, who is out of the More Than Ready mare, More Than Magic. The filly, who did not race as a 2 year old, won a maiden claimer at Monmouth May 24th and has earned $35,910 from just 3 starts.

Everything Magic won by 1 3/4 lengths Sunday at Pimlico. She made it easier on herself, winning by a 1 3/4 length cushion. Photo by Jim McCue.
Everything Magic won by 1 3/4 lengths Sunday at Pimlico. She made it easier on herself, winning by a 1 3/4 length cushion. Photo by Jim McCue.

 

Tough Weather, Officer’s Oath and Audacious Angel each scored close wins over the weekend at Delaware Park, Charles Town and Santa Anita respectively. The former’s triumph was by three-quarters of a length while the latter pair were by one-half length.

Tough Weather, bred by Sam English II, is a 5 year old mare by Wiseman’s Ferry out of Soft Weather by Montreal Red. She scored her 6th win of the year Thursday and has earned $68,820 in 2016 alone. The chestnut mare completed the 5 1/2 furlong starter fillies/mares race in 1:05.87 and paid $6.00 to win as the betting favorite. Tough Weather has won 7 of her last 10 starts now — 3 at Laurel, 3 at Penn National and 1 at Delaware.

Officer’s Oath, who competed in a flat race at Great Meadow May 7th as part of the Gold Cup card, defeated six others Friday night in a $24,000, 1 1/16th miles allowance race. Bred by the Daylight Stables, the 3 year old son of Luftikus saved ground from well off the pace initially, made a bid outside from 6th at the 5/16th mark, drew even at the 1/16th pole and edged Katman Quick. Out of the Officer mare, Officer Pepper, Officer’s Oath got his second lifetime score.

Audacious Angel could not reach winner’s circle in her first seven starts, all of which were in maiden special weight company, but a drop into maiden claiming company Sunday did the trick out west as she rallied late to nip Really a Gem in a 6 1/2 furlong test. The 3 year old daughter of City Zip was in for a $75,000 claiming tag and with the victory, pushed her career earnings to $51,410. Bred by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin, Audacious Angel is out of the Distorted Humor mare, Humorlee.

In a “not as close call”, Virginia-bred Everything Magic won her second straight race Sunday at Pimlico for owner/breeder Larry Johnson and trainer Mike Trombetta.

The 3 year old daughter of Street Sense won the 5 1/2 furlong, $42,000 allowance optional claiming event by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:05.72. She was fourth heading into the turn, took aim in mid-turn, got to the front at the head of the stretch and never looked back. Rider Julian Pimentel guided the big effort atop Everything Magic, who is out of the More Than Ready mare, More Than Magic. The filly, who did not race as a 2 year old, won a maiden claimer at Monmouth May 24th and has earned $35,910 from just 3 starts.