Magic Attitude powers to victory in Belmont Oaks

ELMONT, N.Y. - Magic Attitude transferred her solid European form to North America Saturday, rallying from last of five to win the Grade 1, $250,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational by 2 1/4 lengths at Belmont Park.

Antoinette, the Saratoga Oaks winner, set all the pace Saturday before being passed by Magic Attitude in midstretch and finished second by 2 1/4 lengths over Neige Blanche. Setting the Mood and Key Biscayne completed the order of finish.

Magic Attitude, a Great Britain-bred daughter of Galileo, had come out of two solid efforts in Group 1 races in France, including a fifth-place finish in the French Oaks, which had produced several next-out winners in Europe.

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Magic Attitude had initially come to the U.S. to run in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks, but got sick and missed that Aug. 22 race, according to trainer Arnaud Delacour.

“This wasn’t really by design, but we had to wait,” Delacour said.

Though there was little pace in the Belmont Oaks, it was by design for Javier Castellano to settle Magic Attitude early and keep her covered up before making a run.

Magic Attitude was last, but only 3 1/2 lengths behind Antoinette, who set fractions of 24.89 for the quarter, 49.99 for the half-mile and 1:14.17.

Approaching the quarter pole, Castellano swung Magic Attitude to the outside and she overpowered Antoinette by the midstretch marker. Castellano waved the whip at Magic Attitude before hitting her once to get her to finish off the race.

Magic Attitude, owned by the Lael Stable of Roy and Gretchen Jackson, covered the 1 1/4 miles over firm ground in 2:01.14 and returned $4.30 as the even-money choice.

“The pace was a little bit of a concern because in a five-horse field you never know what’s going to happen,” Delacour said. “But it didn’t change her running style because that’s how she likes to race. Javier timed it perfectly. She came with a good kick.”

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Delacour said Magic Attitude would be considered for the Grade 1, $500,000 Queen Elizabeth at Keeneland on Oct. 10, but noted that the three-week turnaround could be tight.

“It might be coming back too quick,” Delacour said. “We’ll let her tell us.”

Trainer Bill Mott said Antoinette had no excuse and was simply second best on Saturday under John Velazquez.

“She might have run her race,” Mott said. “The winner looked impressive rolling by us. We had the spot we wanted and he slowed it down, and Johnny said she kicked for him. She ran, it wasn’t like she didn’t try.”