Vegas Magic's victory in Everett Nevin sparks Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies hopes
The Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, Calif., is not known as a venue for a Breeders’ Cup hopeful. Trainer Doug O’Neill is hoping to change that this year with the 2-year-old filly Vegas Magic, who remained unbeaten after two starts with a come-from-behind win in Saturday’s $76,800 Everett Nevin Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs.
“She’s shown she has above-average ability,” O’Neill said Sunday. “We’re dreaming about the Breeders’ Cup.”
Vegas Magic is certainly exciting to watch. In the Nevin Stakes against males, Vegas Magic closed from seventh with a quarter-mile remaining to win by a nose under jockey Frank Alvarado.
“That was wild,” O’Neill said. “It looked like mid-race she was completely out of it and would not get any piece of it. It went from getting a piece of it to we might win it.”
O’Neill did not mention a race goal for Vegas Magic, who became the first stakes winner for the young stallion Good Magic in the Nevin.
At the upcoming Del Mar summer meeting, which begins July 22, there are two graded stakes for 2-year-old fillies – the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes at six furlongs on Aug. 13 and the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs on Sept. 10. The BC Juvenile Fillies at 1 1/16 miles will be run Nov. 4 at Keeneland.
“We want to see how we can get there,” O’Neill said. “There are a lot of options.”
Vegas Magic, who races for Omar Aldabbagh, Todd Cady, and Ty Leatherman, was purchased for $100,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. auction of 2-year-olds in training in March. Vegas Magic, who has earned $85,200, won her debut in a maiden special weight race for fillies June 11 at Santa Anita.