Magical Fantasy earned her third consecutive graded stakes score by coming from off the pace to win the $350,000 John C. Mabee (gr. IT) (VIDEO) under Alex Solis Aug. 16 at
A 4-year-old daughter of Diesis, Magical Fantasy gained a berth into the Nov. 6 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) at Santa Anita with her impressive victory. The chestnut filly has now bagged the Santa Barbara Handicap (gr. IIT), Gamely (gr. IT), and Mabee in consecutive fashion while vaulting into the upper echelon of the older filly and mare turf division. She is trained by Patrick Gallagher.
The pace was moderate in the 1 1/8-mile Mabee, with Patricia's Gem taking the field of nine around early splits of :23.96, :48.17, and 1:12.08 with Victor Espinoza aboard. Briecat pressed the leader, while Charming Legacy and Tuscan Evening also were close up.
Turning for home, Patricia's Gem still had the lead while Gotta Have Her moved into striking position under Tyler Baze. But Magical Fantasy, who raced near the back of the pack in the early going and was swung wide by Solis for her stretch run, was charging from the middle of the racetrack. The talented filly rolled right by the two leaders in deep stretch and went on to win by a length while stopping the clock in 1:47.17 on the ‘firm’ turf.
Gotta Have Her got up for second, a half-length in front of Patricia’s Gem. Visit rallied for fourth.
"She's been working great," Solis said. "She just seems like a different horse. She's so full of confidence. She loves it here at Del Mar.
"At the quarter pole I had a good position and I thought I was in good shape. I was inside, but I had so much horse I thought I could push someone out of the way if I had to. As it worked out, I got through and everything was fine."
Magical Fantasy is owned by David Bienstock, Paul Mandabach, and Charles Winner. She was bred in
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"She looks like she's improving a little bit at a time," Gallagher said. "She has a lot of enthusiasm and she looks really good. We're very lucky she likes it here.
"A grade I last year and a grade I this year; she beat a lot of nice fillies. (The Breeders' Cup) would be something nice to think about; to go and have a good time with that kind of race."
Sent off as the favorite, the winner paid $6.40, $4.20, and $2.80. The exacta (3-7) returned $46.40 and the trifecta (
Charming Legacy was fifth, followed by Meydan Princess, Bel Aire Sizzle, Tuscan Evening, and Briecat.