The Woodbine Entertainment Group’s final major stakes night of the season featured the $1.8 million “Fall Four” Grand Circuit events for two-year-olds on Saturday, Nov. 19 at Woodbine Racetrack.
In the first of the Fall Four stakes, Magic Presto and driver Brian Sears prevailed off a pocket trip, sweeping by favourite Princess Aurora in the stretch to win the $447,000 Goldsmith Maid for trotting fillies.
Leaving from post six, Magic Presto trotted past Temple Ruins (Matt Kakaley) off the gate and led the field through the first quarter in :29.1 before 3-5 favourite Princess Aurora (Yannick Gingras) marched forward from an early three-hole and cleared on the way to the half in :58.1. Princess Aurora continued to lead the way to three-quarters in 1:26.3 with the developing outer flow not posing any immediate threat. However, Sears launched Magic Presto from the pocket in the final eighth of the mile to score going away by three lengths in 1:55.4. Princess Aurora settled for second while Temple Ruins followed almost nine lengths behind in third.
“It was great, the trip worked out really well and the horse performed really well,” said trainer Richard ‘Nifty’ Norman of the Kadabra-In The Mean Time filly, who bounced back from sickness this fall to earn her fourth win of the year from nine starts. “Brian actually hasn’t driven her when she’s been at her best. We kind of assured him that she was on her way back and she qualified good and he came up and everything went to plan. It was just a shame she got sick for the Super Final, and then she got healthy for the Breeders Crown, but she really wasn’t fit enough and it just didn’t payoff, but we got paid tonight so it worked out good.”
The victory boosted Magic Presto’s bankroll to $393,000 for owners Melvin Hartman of Ottawa, Ont., Florida’s Herb Liverman and David McDuffee, and Little E LLC of New York.
“It’s a good way to end the year,” noted Norman. “She gets put away in good shape and she’s a big, powerful filly, I think she’ll be a good filly next year so I’m looking forward to that.”
Magic Presto paid $7.10 to win as the 5-2 second choice on the toteboard.
(Standardbred Canada)
