Magic Presto evokes memories of Bee A Magician in pursuit of Peaceful Way title
September 15, 2016,by Kim French, USTA Internet News Editor
Kim French
Columbus, OH — Everyone in this business longs for that horse; the one that is a world champion, a Horse of the Year and charts the course of history so their name is forever distinguished, remembered and revered. Although Magic Presto has only just begun her career, the inspiration behind her purchase was the premonition that lightning may be captured in a bottle, not once, but twice and that she could follow in the hoofprints of another filly that first served notice of her superiority with a victory in the 2012 Peaceful Way — Bee A Magician.
“She was a big, beautiful, strong yearling,” said Richard “Nifty” Norman, the filly’s conditioner. “My owners always support Kadabra because they have shares in him, but this filly reminded me of Bee A Magician. That is why we went to $160,000 for her.”
Those are exceptionally high expectations for the daughter of Kadabra-In The Mean Time, who is owned by the same connections as the horse she was compared to in Mel Hartman, Herb Liverman and David McDuffee, along with Little E LLC. She may not be dominating the headlines, yet Magic Presto certainly has been living up to what her connections anticipate for her future. In her short career, the filly’s resume stands at 5-2-2-0 and she has banked $59,677.
New Image Media photo
Magic Presto has banked $59,677 in just five career starts.
Magic Presto will attempt to replicate the feat of her older stablemate when she leaves from post position 10 in the C$363,000 Peaceful Way final on Saturday (Sept. 17) at Mohawk Racetrack. The filly will have the services of one of Canada’s best reinsman in Trevor Henry and enters this contest after a very strong second in her elimination to Thats All Moni (post two).
Unfortunately, Magic Presto will have to contend with post position 10, when she takes on the likes of freshman trotting sensation Ariana G (post four).
After being hampered by post nine in her elimination, Magic Presto was hung wide leaving the gate, was settled in fourth and then endured a first-over journey commencing at the three-quarter marker only to be out-finished by Thats All Moni by 2-1/4 lengths at the wire.
“You can’t do anything about where you draw,” Norman said. “I would not have selected either post for her in the elimination and final, but was very pleased with how she performed in the elimination. She will do anything you ask of her and is so willing. To come first-over and to have that kind of finish, you can’t ask anything more of her.”
As for Bee A Magician, the horse whose shoes Magic Presto is anticipated to fill, it is possible the 6-year-old daughter of Kadabra-Beehive will return prior to the end of the season.
“She has been swimming,” Norman said. “We put her back in light training this week and all seems to be well. We would like to bring her back for the Breeders Crown, but there is still some time to go before we can see what will happen. I’m not really sure what we would use for a prep race for her as it depends on what is available and how she progresses.”
When it comes to Magic Presto, however, the filly will have plenty of opportunities to stake her claim for divisional honors.
“Kadabra is a provincial stallion,” Norman said. “But my owners and I have done quite well with him and we think this filly has ability. She is cleanly gaited, you can put her anywhere you want to and she is staked to everything for the rest of the year. She will have the opportunities to progress and develop.”
C$363,000 Peaceful Way
2-year-old filly trotters
Race 2 – Post time 7:50 p.m. (EDT)
PP–Horse–Driver–Trainer
1. Stuck In My Spanks-Paul MacDonell-Scott McEneny
2. Thats All Moni-Tim Tetrick-Jimmy Takter
3. Pure Kemp-Rick Zeron-Rick Zeron
4. Ariana G-Yannick Gingras-Jimmy Takter
5. Cameron Hill-John Campbell-John Bax
6. Southwind Avanti-David Miller-Nancy Johansson
7. Winter Sweet Frost-Scott Zeron-Paul Reid
8. The Erm-Mike Saftic-Clark Beelby
9. Dream Together-Sylvain Filion-Luc Blais
10. Magic Presto-Trevor Henry-Nifty Norman
- Ariana G and Thats All Moni take Peaceful Way eliminations (Friday, September 09, 2016)
Yannick Gingras and Jimmy Takter swept the eliminations of the Peaceful Way Stakes Thursday night (Sept. 8) at Mohawk Racetrack with Thats All Moni and Ariana G. A group of 17 two-year-old trotting fillies were split into two C$30,000 eliminations for the C$363,000 Peaceful Way Stakes.
- Hannelore Hanover faces big challenge in Maple Leaf Trot (Tuesday, September 13, 2016)
Hannelore Hanover will face the toughest challenge of her career when she meets nine rivals in Saturday’s (Sept. 17) C$632,000 Maple Leaf Trot at Mohawk Racetrack, but with wins in 21 of her last 22 races, the 4-year-old mare has already proven she knows how to ace a test.
- Mohawk stakes finals in Grand Circuit spotlight (Wednesday, September 14, 2016)
Grand Circuit action at Mohawk will be held on Saturday with the C$632,000 Maple Leaf Trot for older trotters, the C$687,000 Canadian Trotting Classic for 3-year-old male trotters, the C$436,000 Elegantimage for 3-year-old filly trotters, the C$350,000 William Wellwood Memorial for 2-year-old male trotters, the C$363,000 Peaceful Way final for 2-year-old filly trotters, and two C$35,000 eliminations in the Milton Stake for older pacing mares.
- C$2.6 million Maple Leaf Trot and Canadian Trotting Classic card set (Wednesday, September 14, 2016)
All eyes will be on harness racing’s finest trotters Saturday evening (Sept. 17) at Mohawk Racetrack for Maple Leaf Trot and Canadian Trotting Classic night. An outstanding card featuring the best trotters of all ages has been assembled with more than C$2.6 million in purse money on the line.
- Burke seeks Wellwood trifecta with What The Hill (Wednesday, September 14, 2016)
Trainer Ron Burke will try to win the William Wellwood Memorial for the third consecutive year, and while this season’s contender What The Hill might not enter Saturday’s race with the same buildup as 2015 champion Southwind Frank, the colt has shown he possesses one extremely coveted talent — the desire to get to the finish line first.
- Ariana G strolls in Peaceful Way (Saturday, September 17, 2016)
Securing the lead after the half-mile, Ariana G advanced towards a 1:54 victory in the C$363,000 Peaceful Way final on Saturday night (Sept.17) at Mohawk Racetrack.
- Resolve victorious in epic Maple Leaf Trot (Saturday, September 17, 2016)
Resolve turned in a game effort to come away with 1:51.4 victory in the C$632,000 Maple Leaf Trot Saturday night (Sept. 17) at Mohawk Racetrack. The 5-year-old stallion was went toe-to-toe with standout mare Hannelore Hanover for the final half-mile and ultimately wore down the powerhouse to score a 1-1/2 victory for Swedish native and trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt.
- Seven And Seven captures Wellwood Memorial (Saturday, September 17, 2016)
Seven And Seven lunged off cover and down the center of the track to take the C$350,000 William Wellwood Memorial final in 1:55.3 Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack.
- Bar Hopping gives Takter third consecutive Trotting Classic (Saturday, September 17, 2016)
Bar Hopping charged home to win the C$687,000 Canadian Trotting Classic by 3-1/2 lengths Saturday night (Sept. 17) at Mohawk Racetrack. Trained by Jimmy Takter, the colt was able to convert off a perfect second-over steer by Tim Tetrick to win Canada’s biggest race for 3-year-old trotters and provide Takter with his third straight victory in the contest.