One Magic Philly pulls Chillingworth upset out of her hat
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ARCADIA, Calif. – At least something named Philly had a good sporting afternoon on Saturday.
About the same time the Philadelphia Phillies were playing the final innings of their 6-2 loss to the New York Mets in the Major League Baseball playoffs, the 3-year-old filly One Magic Philly scored an upset win in the Grade 3 Chillingworth Stakes at Santa Anita.
One Magic Philly ($9.60) engaged 1-10 favorite Sweet Azteca on the turn and pulled away to win by 2 3/4 lengths. Sweet Azteca, rated as the nation’s leading female sprinter, faded to finish last of four, beaten 8 3/4 lengths.
The field was reduced by the scratches of Anywho, Chismosa, and Hope Road.
Sweet Azteca was so heavily favored in the place pool that One Magic Philly paid $13 for a $2 place bet. Irish Wahine (25-1) closed from last of four to finish second, and returned $74 to place.
Of the $235,284 bet to place, $211,579 was bet on Sweet Azteca, whose loss left jockey Juan Hernandez perplexed.
“She was getting out,” Hernandez said. “I didn’t feel she was in the race. She didn’t have the interest there today. She felt fine after.”
One Game Philly ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.14 in the $100,000 Chillingworth and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 92.
Ridden by Antonio Fresu, One Game Philly was always within a half-length of Sweet Azteca through early fractions of 21.76 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.10 for a half-mile.
“What was planned happened,” Fresu said.
Racing outside of Sweet Azteca, One Magic Philly took a commanding lead in early stretch and led by 2 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining.
“She won easily,” Fresu said. “She has improved a lot. She ran a big race.”
Irish Wahine, fourth by 10 lengths behind Sweet Azteca in the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap at Del Mar on Aug. 25, had her best result in a stakes. She was claimed for $20,000 in May.
Irish Wahine finished 3 1/4 lengths in front of Kirstenbosch, who won the 2023 Chillingworth Stakes.
The loss by Sweet Azteca ended a three-race win streak that included the Grade 1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita in March and the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes at Los Alamitos in July.
One Magic Philly, who races for owner and breeder John Gallegos and trainer Phil D’Amato, has won 3 of 4 starts and earned $161,400. D’Amato said that One Magic Philly will be considered for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 2, or the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs at Santa Anita in late December.
As the lone 3-year-old filly in the field, One Magic Philly carried 118 pounds, eight less than the stakes winners Kirstenbosch and Sweet Azteca.
The Chillingworth Stakes was One Magic Philly’s stakes debut and third consecutive win. She won a maiden race in her second start at Del Mar on Aug. 3 and was the seven-length winner of an allowance race there on Sept. 2. Those races were run at 6 1/2 furlongs.
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