Magnificat gets first stakes win in Desert Stormer

Magnificat led throughout Thursday’s $98,000 Desert Stormer Stakes for fillies and mares at Santa Anita to win her first stakes, an achievement made easier following the withdrawal of the graded stakes winner Nooni earlier in the day.

Ridden by Antonio Fresu, Magnificat ($2.80) took the lead shortly after the start and won by three-quarters of a length over 18-1 Syntax, who was claimed for $10,000 in April. Magnificat ran six furlongs in 1:08.95.

“She was always comfortable,” Fresu said in a winner’s circle interview. “When the other horse came up, she was always responding.”

Nooni, trained by Bob Baffert, was listed as a stakes scratch. The winner of the Grade 3 Sorrento Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar in August 2024, Nooni has not raced since a fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos in December 2024.

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Magnificat won her second consecutive start in the Desert Stormer. She set a modest pace of 22.72 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, leading by a length over 2-1 Revera.

Revera was unable to sustain the challenge. Syntax raced within a half-length of Magnificat after a half-mile in 45.36 seconds and trailed by that margin with a furlong remaining.

Revera finished third, beaten 5 3/4 lengths, and was followed by Antifona in a field of four.

Magnificat, a 4-year-old filly by Omaha Beach, races for owner and breeder Spendthrift Farm and trainer Richard Mandella. Magnificat has won 4 of 7 starts and earned $199,200.

Magnificat won her second start in a maiden race at Santa Anita last October and an allowance race at Del Mar last November. After finishing fifth of six in the Grade 3 Las Flores Stakes for fillies and mares at Santa Anita in January, Magnificat was second in an allowance on dirt in March.

On May 15, Magnficat won for the first time on turf in an allowance at six furlongs. Fresu said the filly prefers dirt.

“Last time, she won because she has a lot of talent,” he said. “I think she was uncomfortable. Today, she was feeling better on the dirt.”

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