Woodbine Harness: Magic Presto prevails from out of the pocket in Goldsmith Maid

Magic Presto cut through the wind and the cold like a hot knife through butter, easily capturing the C$447,000 Goldsmith Maid for 2-year-old filly trotters on Saturday night at Woodbine Racetrack, picking up her first Grand Circuit stakes victory in the process.

With Brian Sears calling the shots, Magic Presto left out from post six to grab the front, and she would reach the quarter on top in 29 1/5. Heavy favorite Princess Aurora (Yannick Gingras) then moved out of third in search of the lead, and she obtained it well before the 58 1/5 half went on the board.

Princess Aurora went on to reach three-quarters in 1:26 3/5, but Sears brought Magic Presto back to the outside in the lane, and she would trot right by the public choice. From there, Magic Presto ran up the score, reaching the finish line about three lengths to the good in 1:55 4/5. Princess Aurora wound up second, with Temple Ruins (Matt Kakaley) checking in third. Cameron Hill (Paul MacDonell) grabbed fourth, and Cool Cates (Andrew McCarthy) was the fifth-place finisher.

"It was great; the trip worked out really well, and the horse performed really well," said victorious trainer Richard "Nifty" Norman. It was just a shame she got sick for the Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final. She got healthy for the Breeders Crown, but she really wasn't fit enough. It didn't pay off, but we got paid tonight, so it worked out good.

"She's a big and powerful filly, and I think she'll be a good filly next year. I'm looking forward to that."

Breeder Herb Liverman co-owns the winning daughter of Kadabra with partners Mel Hartman, David McDuffee, and Little E LLC. This was her fourth triumph from nine starts this year, and she has earned C$393,049. She's the second foal out of the late Muscles Yankee mare In The Mean Time, making her a full sister to Could It Be Magic (C$222,656). The 5-2 second choice, Magic Presto paid $7.10 to win.