Vegas Magic back off lengthy layoff in Great Lady M.

She has not raced since November and has not won since August.

The promising 3-year-old filly Vegas Magic will be asked to overcome a lengthy layoff when she starts for the first time in 2023 in Tuesday’s Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs at Los Alamitos.

A winner of 3 of 5 starts, Vegas Magic was 10th of 13 at 54-1 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland last November in her most recent race.

Vegas Magic resumed workouts in late April and has had a consistent pattern of works for more than two months for her first start outside of her age group on Tuesday.

“She needed a little time to grow up,” trainer Doug O’Neill wrote in a text message on Friday.

Owned by Omar Aldabbagh, Ty Leatherman, and Todd Cady, Vegas Magic had a strong record in sprints last summer, winning her first three starts. She won two stakes, overcoming trouble to win the Everett Nevin Stakes against males at 5 1/2 furlongs at Pleasanton last July, and the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes at six furlongs against fillies last August.

Antonio Fresu, who relocated from Dubai in April, is booked to ride Vegas Magic who is part of a projected field of nine in the $200,000 Great Lady M. Stakes. Strategically, Vegas Magic should have a pace to follow, which would help her closing style.

“She’s training well and we’re optimistic she’ll be competitive enough to win,” O’Neill said. “We look for her to have a nice campaign in the second half of the year.”

The field of expected runners is led by Elm Drive, a four-time stakes winner; and Eda, who has won five consecutive races, including four stakes, since October 2021.

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