Magic Circle will try to complete Busanda-Busher double

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Magic Circle, the dominant winner of the Busanda Stakes here on Jan. 23, will seek to further her résumé for a potential Kentucky Oaks bid when she runs in the $250,000 Busher Invitational at Aqueduct on March 5.

Magic Circle has hardly missed a dance since trying stakes company for the first time last October when she finished fourth behind eventual champion Echo Zulu in the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont Park. Since then, Magic Circle has finished second in the Tempted and third in the Grade 2 Demoiselle before her front-running victory in the Busanda at 1 1/8 miles.

The Busher means cutting back to a one-turn mile, but trainer Rudy Rodriguez said: “In the long run, maybe that’s a better distance for her. She looks like maybe she struggles with the [longer] distance.”

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Magic Circle, who has 13 qualifying points toward the May 6 Kentucky Oaks, finished a neck in front of Nest in the Tempted when those two were second and third behind Gerrymander. Nest has since come back to win the Grade 2 Demoiselle – with Magic Circle beaten one length – and last Saturday’s Suncoast Stakes at Tampa.

Since the Busanda, Magic Circle has had two easy half-mile breezes over the Belmont training track. Rodriguez said he liked the filly’s breeze in 51.40 seconds on Sunday, a work that was done in company with the older male Danny California.

“The track is very slow,” Rodriguez said. “We’re just trying to keep her in the same routine, but she seems pretty comfortable. I’m happy the way she’s doing.”