Blinker strategy pays off for Living Magic in My Dear Stakes
?q=100)
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Maryland-based Living Magic, with blinkers added, won the $134,500 My Dear Stakes in front-running style during a rainstorm on Saturday at Woodbine.
Living Magic ($16.60) made the lead along the inside under Rafael Hernandez while pressed by the favored Stormcast in the 5 1/2-furlong Tapeta sprint for 2-year-old fillies.
Living Magic assumed command early in the stretch before holding off a closing Dancing Duchess to prevail by three-quarters of a length, in a time of 1:03.55.
Stormcast weakened to third and was followed by Bolt Enoree, Crafty Oaks and Party.
Trainer Phil Schoenthal sent out Living Magic to land her May 1 debut at Parx Racing before finishing third in the June 11 Astoria Stakes at Belmont for owner/breeder Henry Nothhaft. The daughter of Justify is out of two-time Grade 2 Presque Isle Masters winner Living The Life.
“She definitely was green in her first race at Parx,” Nothhaft recalled. “So, we thought she should run in blinkers next time out, but going into New York off a win, we were not allowed to use blinkers. That’s why we ran with blinkers on today.
“I’ve been trying to get up to Woodbine for a number of years, and it never quite worked out. I campaigned the (dam) of this horse, and she won five stakes on all-weather tracks. I wanted to see what she would do up here, and she didn’t disappoint us.”
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.