Longest shot wins Oaks

OCEANPORT, N.J. - With only two wins in seven career starts, 9-1 Magic Storm, the longest shot in the five-horse field, won the Grade 2, $250,000 by a half-length over 7-10 favorite Alternate at Monmouth on Saturday.

Trained by D. Wayne Lukas, who won Oaks in 2000 with Spain, Magic storm was ridden Saturday by Eddie King, who picked up the mount only 20 minutes before the race when scheduled jockey Chuck Lopez was injured in the previous race.

With Sixtyone Margaux and Bronze Autumn setting moderate fractions on the lead, Magic Storm stalked the pace alongside Seba, with Alternate sitting five lengths off the pacesetters. Turning for home, Magic Storm was under a drive near the back of the pack and looked out of the race, as Alternate made her move. But King took Magic Storm to the outside at the eighth pole, and she surged through a gap when Alternate veered out under Eibar Coa.

Magic Storm ($21.80), owned by Overbrook Farm, crossed the wire in 1:51.17 for nine furlongs before a crowd of 11,203. Bronze Autumn was third, followed by Sixtyone Margaux and Seba.

"That was a terrific race," assistant trainer Peter Hutton said. "I had never seen her before today. Wayne called and said, 'Just go down and win and send her back.' "