Magic of Reality could help Motion pull ahead in trainers' race
As Keeneland plays out the string of its 17-day fall meet, split divisions of a second-level, filly and mare turf allowance will serve as co-features of a nine-race Thursday card at the Lexington, Ky., track.
Three trainers have horses in both races, and one of them, Graham Motion, was tied atop the Keeneland standings when racing resumed Wednesday for the final four-day stretch of the meet. Motion will send out Magic of Reality for her stateside debut in the first division (race 6), and Latique and Spelling Again in the second division (race 8). Both are carded with fields of 12 as $60,000 races scheduled for a mile on turf.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 10 Magic of Reality. Trainer Graham Motion is 15-5-2-1 with a $4.10 ROI over the past two years with foreign shippers getting Lasix for the first time in turf routes following a layoff of 100 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Of the Motion trio, Magic of Reality might stand the best chance. Bred and owned by the Niarchos family’s Flaxman Holdings, the Galileo filly was trained by the legendary Henry Cecil until his death in June 2013. In seven subsequent starts, Magic of Reality ran very well except for her final race last year, yielding an overall encouraging record that would seem to make her a major threat Thursday, especially when being treated with the bleeder medication Lasix for the first time.
Motion, based primarily at the Fair Hill Training Center in northeastern Maryland, has ranked among the top trainers at Keeneland in recent years but has never won the training title. He was tied with Todd Pletcher with six wins going into this final week.
First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern, with the eighth race filling the traditional feature slot at 4:42.
One stakes remains at the meet: the Grade 2 Fayette on the closing-day card Saturday. Churchill Downs begins its fall meet Sunday.
RACE 8: ALLOWANCE
KEY CONTENDERS
Latique (Last 3 Beyers: 75-78-76)
◗ A consistent stalking type who went through her first two conditions in consecutive starts in races spread 6 1/2 months apart, this Elusive Quality filly was no factor in her initial stakes foray at Saratoga but seems to fit quite well with these when well-drawn toward the hedge.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Latique. Trainer Graham Motion is 136-32-11-26 with a $3.02 ROI over the past year in turf routes following a layoff of 45 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Seanchai (Last 3 Beyers: 80-77-80)
◗ She showed considerably more early interest than normal when going tooth-and-nail in one of those rich Kentucky Downs allowance races last month and probably stands a better chance here when subject to a little more early rating.
High Wire Kitten (Last 3 Beyers: 79-76-75)
◗ She was second for this same condition last month at Churchill when exiting three straight stakes and retains Rosie Napravnik, who entered this final week tied for the lead atop the jockey standings with Shaun Bridgmohan (11 wins each).
Share the Sugar (Last 3 Beyers: 82-72-80)
◗ The Thorndale Stable homebred must overcome the difficult outside post when seeking something similar to that last-out Kentucky Downs effort, when she made an eye-catching, mid-race move before just missing for this same condition.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Spelling Again. Trainer Graham Motion is 50-3-8-7 with a $1.25 ROI over the past year going from sprint to route on turf. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 11 Diva Meg. Trainer Eddie Kenneally is 9-1-0-3 with a $0.75 ROI over the past year going from sprint to route on turf following a win. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan