Majestic Harbor taking owner on thrilling ride

DEL MAR, Calif. – By late afternoon on June 28, Ron Beegle was well into what he thought was the finest day of his year.

Beegle was in Orlando to witness his 11-year-old twin daughters, Jolie and Hope, finish first and fifth in the all-around competition at a national gymnastics meet. Hours later at the hotel, Beegle found his way to the pool bar, hoping to watch his 6-year-old horse Majestic Harbor run in the $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita.

The problem was that the bar’s TVs were dedicated to World Cup highlights.

“I said, ‘Guys, I’ve got a horse in the race,’ ” Beegle said. “They thought I was betting on the horse. They gave me one TV.”

Word quickly circulated that Beegle owned Majestic Harbor. Another TV was switched to a racing channel. With that, a group of sunburned Florida tourists helped Beegle cheer home Majestic Harbor to a career-defining win.

“My whole share of the purse went to the bar bill,” Beegle joked a few days ago. “My kids did fantastic in the competition. It was one of the best days of my life.”

Beegle and his family will be at Del Mar on Sunday, when Majestic Harbor starts in the richest race of his career, the $1 million Pacific Classic. The race can confirm Majestic Harbor’s status in California’s older horse division as the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 1 grows closer. Majestic Harbor earned a fees-paid berth to the BC Classic in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita. The Pacific Classic holds the same designation.

Racing at this level seemed unlikely for Majestic Harbor at the start of the year. He had yet to win or place in a stakes for trainers Sean McCarthy in California or Paul McGee in Kentucky and Louisiana.

“We are pleasantly surprised,” Beegle said. “We thought he had talent and always demonstrated talent. He’d never put it all together. He had his bumps and bruises. But since he’s been out here in California, he’s been a changed horse.”

Majestic Harbor has won 2 of 5 starts this year. He was second in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita in January and won the Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup over 1 1/2 miles there in March. At that point, Beegle and McCarthy considered Majestic Harbor a candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Marathon over 1 3/4 miles. Then, the Breeders’ Cup sacked the race from the 2014 schedule, forcing a change in plans.

After Majestic Harbor finished third in the Grade 2 Californian Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on May 31, the Gold Cup at Santa Anita became a goal. Ridden by Tyler Baze, Majestic Harbor closed from third in a field of seven to take the lead in early stretch. He pulled away through the final furlong, drawing off to win by 6 1/4 lengths over Clubhouse Ride, a candidate for the Pacific Classic.

“It so happens that a mile and a quarter is his best distance,” Beegle said. “That distance is tough on a lot of horses. It’s worked well for him.”

Beegle, 51, has owned horses since the late 1990s. He is a founding partner of the private equity firm Goode Partners in Los Angeles and lives near Santa Anita. Majestic Harbor is the best horse he has owned and the best McCarthy, 51, has trained. By Rockport Harbor, Majestic Harbor has won 6 of 23 starts and earned $655,764.

The Gold Cup was the first Grade 1 win for both Beegle and McCarthy. The Pacific Classic will be a tougher race against a group that includes Shared Belief, the undefeated champion 2-year-old male of 2013.

A win by Majestic Harbor would be the first time he has won consecutive stakes.

“How often do you get a horse in this kind of race?” Beegle said. “Sean has done a fabulous job with him, and Tyler has done a great job. It seems to be clicking. We expect a good performance. We want to see that he’s competitive with this bunch.”

Beegle and his family will be part of a large group attending the Pacific Classic. Watching on television won’t be good enough this time.