Magnificat steps up, stretches out in Tranquility Lake

After Magnificat finished second to the brilliant sprinter Sweet Azteca in the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes at Los Alamitos on July 4, trainer Richard Mandella began thinking of a career change for the 4-year-old filly.

Magnificat is out of California’s filly and mare sprint division for the time being. She will have her first start at a mile in Saturday’s $100,000 Tranquility Lake Stakes for fillies and mares at Del Mar.

“Her mother ran long, and when she ran the other day, she settled and finished,” Mandella said. “I’m anxious to see how she’ll finish.”

Magnificat, a winner of 4 of 8 starts for owner and breeder Spendthrift Farm, certainly has the pedigree to be effective at a mile. She is by Omaha Beach, winner of the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at 1 1/8 miles in 2019, and is out of Holy Helena, who thrived in two-turn races, including a win against males in the Queen’s Plate Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Woodbine in 2017.

In the Great Lady M. Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs, Magnificat closed from fifth of seven to lose by 1 1/4 lengths to Sweet Azteca, a contender for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

Magnificat, winner of the Desert Stormer Stakes for fillies and mares at six furlongs at Santa Anita on June 11, will be ridden for the first time by Joel Rosario, a replacement for Antonio Fresu, who is riding at Kentucky Downs on Saturday.

The Tranquility Lake, which drew a field of 10, is restricted to nonwinners of a stakes worth $50,000 or more to the winner in races at a mile or more since Feb. 1, other than in statebred stakes. The condition has drawn several contenders, including Amorita, Howin, Lavender Love, and Our Moonlight.

Amorita, also trained by Mandella, won the Daisycutter Handicap at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar on July 25. She was last of six in a maiden race for 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar in August 2024 in her only start on dirt. Mandella insists she deserves another chance on the surface.

“She trains unbelievably on dirt, so I want to give it a try,” he said.

Howin, trained by Bob Baffert, has not raced since she finished third to stablemate Cavalieri in the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita last September. Fast enough to set the pace, Howin has recorded quick works in recent weeks.

“We’d like to have gotten an allowance race,” Baffert said. “She’s doing well.”

Lavender Love starts from the outside post and is likely to take a forward position under jockey Edwin Maldonado. She has led throughout her four career wins. The Tranquility Lake is Lavender Love’s first start since she was pulled up in the Grade 2 Santa Margarita Stakes at Santa Anita on May 30 after stumbling at the start.

Our Moonlight won an allowance race at a mile at Los Alamitos on June 28, racing near the front throughout.