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There have been peaks and valleys on this long and twisty road to launch Magical Ways’ career, so to see your 3-year-old in the entries on Friday at Aqueduct is truly cause for celebration.
The son of Maclean’s Music is among a field of 6 set to compete in the 6 1/2-furlong dirt race. Magical Ways drew post 3 and will be ridden by Jose Lezcano. He is the co-second choice at 3-1 on what is a tight morning-line with not much separating this compact field in the way of odds. Magical Way is one of two first-time starters in this $85,000 Maiden Special Weight. While older horses were eligible to enter, only 3-year-olds comprise the field.
Post time for Race 2 is 12:50 p.m. ET, which by the looks of the weather forecast will be before the heaviest rain hits the area.
Your colt’s Hall of Fame trainer, Bill Mott, is enjoying a spectacular start to the month and is fresh off winning two Breeders’ Cup races last Saturday at Keeneland with Cody’s Wish (Dirt Mile) and Elite Power (Sprint).
With regard to Magical Ways’ start, Mott is an excellent 12 for 61 over the past five years with older first-time starters sprinting on dirt (20%, $3.07 ROI), according to Daily Racing Form Formulator stats. Additional key stats can be found through sire Maclean's Music, who strikes at an above average and very strong 13% with his older first-time starters (the sire average in this category is just 9%). This sire is also very capable with his dirt sprinters, firing at an above average 18%.
Based on Magical Ways’ recent breezes, he should be sharp from the gate and is well drawn in the middle.
Best of luck to Magical Ways’ partners!
About the Competition (in post position order):
Happy Bob (5-2) is the morning-line favorite. Friday will mark his third trip to the starting gate and his first since Aug. 13 when he took money and went off the second choice and finished a well-beaten fifth. The colt’s first start, back in June at Belmont, was solid with him earning a 79 Beyer Speed Figure for a second-place finish to a subsequent graded stakes-placed runner, Accretive.
Opportunity Set (3-1) is a first-time starter for trainer Chad Brown. His worktab has been proficient and with the potent connections of Brown and Irad Ortiz Jr. behind this horse, he will get plenty of support at the windows. Like Mott, Brown brings solid stats to the table with his older first-time starters sprinting on the dirt and is 24% in this category over the past five years. Sire Classic Empire is below average (6%) with his older horses on debut, but has strong stats with his dirt sprinters (17%).
Matt Doyle (4-1) has made six prior starts, but this will be his first as a gelding. He lost twice as the favorite, including his most recent start on Oct. 9 at this distance and over this track. He also gets blinkers on for trainer Rudy Rodriguez who is 16% with that equipment change. Wouldn’t rule him out as he has some good second-place finishes behind nice horses, including Early Voting last year at Aqueduct.
Giant’s Fire (6-1) hasn’t raced since February. Three lifetime starts at Tampa Bay Downs all resulted in third-place finishes. Trainer John Terranova fires at 24% with his runners off the bench 180 days or longer. Would prefer to see a comeback race under his belt before throwing support his way.
Tiger Town Boy (6-1) wasn’t a factor on debut at the distance and at Aqueduct last month while showing no early foot. Gets blinkers on for trainer Danny Gargan who wins at 25% with that move. His last race was on Oct. 9, but he only shows one work for this upcoming assignment, although it was a swift one. He’s been cross-entered to run on as a MTO on Thursday, but that race is likely to remain on the turf so he would scratch and run here.
Excellent review. Go Magical away!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your support. :)
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