Mines and Magic ready to launch comeback in Wild Pearl

Vicki Oliver was all set to finish off a nice 3-year-old season with Mines and Magic when the filly came down with pneumonia, of all things.

“It is unusual for a Thoroughbred to get pneumonia,” Oliver said. “It was a pretty bizarre thing.”

Mines and Magic won the $100,000 Dogwood on Sept. 24 at Churchill Downs as the favorite and was scheduled to run back in the Raven Run at Keeneland.

“Obviously, we had to stop on her a couple of months and miss the Keeneland race,” Oliver said.

Duly regrouped at Payson Park, Mines and Magic is scheduled to make her 4-year-old debut here at Gulfstream Park on Saturday in the $60,000 Wild Pearl at seven furlongs.

“She’s ready to run again,” said Oliver, who trains Mines and Magic for her father, G. Watts Humphrey Jr. “We’re kind of looking long-term at the Doubledogdare” in April at Keeneland.