Magical adds to challenge for Sistercharlie in Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf

Sistercharlie’s bid to become the first repeat winner of the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf won’t be so easy after all.

Magical, who came within three-quarters of a length of Enable in last year’s $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf, will this year contest the Filly and Mare Turf, trainer Aidan O’Brien told reporters in Europe on Tuesday. While O’Brien pre-entered Magical in both the Turf and Filly and Mare Turf – and listed the Turf as first preference – he said she would run against females. O’Brien plans to run English Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck in the Turf.

O’Brien has started 13 horses in 10 previous tries at the Filly and Mare Turf without a victory. He has runner-up finishes in 2003 and 2017.

Magical, a 4-year-old daughter of Galileo, has competed in open races in nine of her last 11 starts, including a three-quarter-length victory in the Group 1 Champion Stakes on Oct. 19 at Ascot. She has won 5 of 9 starts this year, with two of her four losses coming to Enable in the Eclipse and Yorkshire Oaks.

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O’Brien also pre-entered Fleeting and Just Wonderful in the Filly and Mare Turf. Fleeting is winless in eight starts this year, including a fourth-place finish behind Sistercharlie in the Beverly D. Just Wonderful, a 3-year-old, finished fourth in last year’s Juvenile Fillies Turf and was second to Concrete Rose in the Belmont Oaks in July. Just Wonderful also is pre-entered in the Mile and reports are she is likely to run in that spot.

Last year, Sistercharlie gave trainer Chad Brown his fourth victory in the Filly and Mare Turf. That was the third in what has now become six straight Grade 1 victories for Sistercharlie, a 5-year-old daughter of Myboycharlie owned by Peter Brant.

While Sistercharlie still figures to be the favorite, the presence of Magical in the field “certainly makes the race more competitive,” Brown said.

“She’s a wonderful mare. She’s going to be formidable for sure among some others horse that we see are in there,” Brown said. “Sistercharlie’s going to need another one of her ‘A’ races, which she’s been doing time after time. I didn’t expect this race to come up easy and in the end it didn’t.”

Brown also pre-entered Thais in the Filly and Mare Turf. Her purpose will be to set a legitimate pace.

Eight of the 13 Filly and Mare pre-entrants are based in Europe. That group also includes recent Group 1 winners Billesdon Brook, Iridessa, and Villa Marina. Iridessa also is pre-entered in the Mile.

Vasilika part-ownership change

In order to be eligible to run in the Breeders’ Cup, Jerry Hollendorfer had to divest his association with Vasilika, a mare he has trained and been part owner of for the last two years. The Breeders’ Cup upheld a ban of Hollendorfer put in by The Stronach Group going back to June when Hollendorfer had a number of equine fatalities that was deemed unacceptable.

Hollendorfer’s ownership interest was transferred to his wife, Janet. Vasilika will be trained in the Breeders’ Cup by Dan Ward, Hollendorfer’s longtime assistant.

Mark Schlaich, the majority owner of Vasilika, said he has mixed emotions about going on to the Breeders’ Cup without the only trainer he’s had for 15 years. Vasilika is 11 for 12 at Santa Anita, including a victory in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive at 1 1/4 miles in 2018.

“If I get blessed enough to win it, I’m going to send thanks to the Breeders’ Cup and even The Stronach Group; they’re trying to make a change,” Schlaich said. “Maybe I disagree with some of their style. . . . Their style is a little bit rough on my home front, so I’m a little disappointed. But it’s best to move forward. Something was going to shake up. Unfortunately we were involved in that shake-up.”