Magic Attitude possible for QE II

Magic Attitude added some much-needed depth to the 3-year-old filly turf division with a solid 1 1/4-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 1, $250,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational.

In her North America debut, Magic Attitude was last of five early on under Javier Castellano before making an eye-catching move on the turn to seize control of the race by upper stretch. She covered 1 1/4 miles in 2:01.14 and earned a 93 Beyer Speed Figure.

Owned by Roy and Gretchen Jackson’s Lael Stable, Magic Attitude was making her first start for trainer Arnaud Delacour after having raced for trainer Fabrice Chappet in France. Originally earmarked for the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks in August, Magic Attitude got a little sick when she first arrived from France and missed that race.

Delacour said Magic Attitude will be considered for the Grade 1, $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup on Oct. 10 at Keeneland, though she would be coming back in three weeks. It also would mean cutting her back in distance to 1 1/8 miles.

“She won a Group 3 going a mile and an eighth,” Delacour said. “At this stage, we’d probably ride her a little bit differently, try to be a little bit closer if we do that. We’ll have to see.”

There also is the chance of training up to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, if the decision is made to point toward that race.