by Kimberly French, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Kimberly French

Louisville, KY — He is not a world champion or Breeders Crown victor, but in Tyler George’s opinion the lack of those accomplishments do not diminish Il Mago’s reputation. In fact, the smile that was obviously on his lips for the opportunity to talk about his recent acquisition of the 7-year-old trotter was clearly transmitted through his smartphone.

“I am just so thrilled to have a horse like him,” said the 30-year-old conditioner. “I have never had the chance to train this type of animal. He is a class act and has proved it over and over again throughout his career. He has been all over, faced all kinds of horses and continues to go out there and give it more than 150 percent. His achievement has been to be a reliable and consistent horse every year he has raced. There are not many horses you can say that about.”

The son of Kadabra and the Earl mare Northern Style will seek to collect his fourth win of the young season and his second consecutive win under the same conditions, when he leaves from post position seven on Sunday (March 13) in the $20,000 Open Handicap at Miami Valley Raceway. Il Mago will be guided by Trace Tetrick and is the 5-2 selection on the morning line. He will have his hooves full, however, as Penn, the second choice at 3-1, is a formidable foe and commences his journey to the wire right next to his rival in post eight.

Conrad photo

Il Mago held off Martz Time to win the Open Trot on March 6 at Miami Valley in 1:55.

“We were so pleased with his win last week,” George said. “He was fourth in his first (Open) race here, but encountered a very fast first quarter- mile in that. We were confident he would improve from that race and he’s in great condition right now.”

Recently purchased by CC Racing LLC at the Tattersalls Meadowlands sale in January, Il Mago’s price tag was a reasonable $30,000. The stallion has already won $26,236 this year with a record of 6-3-0-0. Last week’s tally was the 27th of his career from 116 races and boosted his bankroll to a healthy $587,208. His lifetime mark of 1:52 was established at age four at The Meadowlands.

Il Mago is an Ontario-bred that is a half sibling to world champion Shoeless White Sox (Mr Lavec, $515,111) and Here Comes Numbers (Here Comes Herbie, $290,881). He has participated in the Ontario Sire Stakes, as well as other open stakes as a 3-year-old. In his first three years of racing he earned more than $100,000 each season and in his last two has just missed reaching that yardstick.

“We were prepared to go higher for him,” George said. “We were shocked that no one really seemed to be interested in him. Look at what he has done and he looked great in the ring physically. We certainly were not complaining when we got him for $30,000, and were awful glad when it was all said and done and he was ours. He was one of the horses we went into that sale wanting to bring home. We were delighted and beside ourselves.”

One of the reasons for that elation is Il Mago’s durability and demeanor.

“He is just pushbutton for everything,” George said. “You can drive him however you want, he really needs no work and trains himself. He makes my job easy because he does everything himself. Nothing fazes him around the barn or on the track. He is the consummate gentleman and always professional in everything he does.

“He did have a problem with a tendon quite some time ago, but the former owners really took care of him and it doesn’t bother him a bit. For all the racing he has done you would think he might have other problems, but he is perfect.”

Despite already collecting nearly what was just paid for him in Ohio, Il Mago will be pointed to some contests in the Hoosier State.

“I am situated right outside of Hoosier Park,” George said. “When we bought him we had an eye on the races there because we thought it would be a great fit for him. Hoosier doesn’t have too many Open trotters that will be there all year long. I don’t expect Allie Labrook or Natural Herbie to stay here all year. They have already proved they belong in stakes out on the East Coast. We are not saying Il Mago is that caliber, but he can go right with them. We’ll race him between Hoosier Park and other tracks in Ohio for the rest of the year.”

No matter how Il Mago performs in the upcoming months, George will simply enjoy being around the horse.

“He is just such a pleasure,” he said. “I don’t know anyone who could not fall in love with his record, the money he has won or his manners. He is a dream to have and I know he will always give the best of himself. I think we are going to have quite the time with him this year and in years to come, if everything goes well.”