Ex-claimer Made for Magic wins Grade 2 Milady

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Mission accomplished with Made for Magic.

In recent months, trainer A.C. Avila has been angling to make Made for Magic a graded stakes winner, and finally did so in Sunday's $150,000 at Hollywood Park. Made for Magic ($21.60) rallied from third in a field of six fillies and mares and fought off a stubborn challenge from 6-5 favorite Wynning Ride to win the Grade 2 Milady by a half-length.

The victory came nine months after Made for Magic was claimed for $16,000 at Golden Gate Fields. She has subsequently earned $208,776 for owners Michael Lamb and Shawn Turner and trainer A.C. Avila.

"We wanted a graded stakes for her," Avila said. "She's been good to us."

Ridden by Omar Berrio, Made for Magic was the second-longest shot in the field. Berrio had Made for Magic in third or fourth for the first six furlongs, tracking Dance to My Tune, who set a slow pace of 24.39 and 48.08 seconds. Made for Magic moved closer to the front with a three-wide move on the turn and was a neck behind leader Wynning Ride at the eighth pole. Made for Magic did not take the lead until the final sixteenth, finishing 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.48.

Wynning Ride finished a half-length in front of Third Dawn.

Avila told Berrio to ride Made for Magic as if the race was a workout, and not ask too much early. "I said, 'Ride her like you are working her,' " Avila said. "'Don't ride someone else's horse. Do you job and sit on her.' "

Made for Magic, a 5-year-old mare by Cape Canaveral, has won 8 of 33 starts and $297,984. The Milady was Made for Magic's third graded stakes appearance this year. She was sixth in the Grade 1 Santa Monica and Grade 1 Santa Margarita handicaps at Santa Anita.