The English-bred Magic Attitude wasn't a complete unknown entering Saturday's Grade 1, $250,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., having won a Group 3 race in France and finishing second in a Group 1 before being shipped across the Atlantic.
But in her North American debut, the sophomore Galileo filly showed that her talents translate across the world, rallying from last-of-five for a 2 1/4-length victory in the 42nd running of the Belmont Oaks going 1 1/4 miles on the inner turf.
Magic Attitude earned a 93 Beyer Speed Figure in her first race since being transferred to the care of trainer Arnaud Delacour, who said she traveled well to her base back at Fair Hill in Maryland, where she recorded all four of her works before her Belmont Oaks triumph.
“It looks like she came out of the race very well and she went back to Fair Hill and looked great this morning,” Delacour said. “I was very happy with her. Yesterday, even the horse to her inside [Setting the Mood] was a little bit fractious in the gate and was rattling a little bit, and it didn't bother her even a little bit.”
Bred in Great Britain by Katsumi Yoshida, Lael Stable's Magic Attitude is a full-sister to 2018 Group 2 Prix de Sandringham winner Mission Impassible, who is also multiple Grade/Group 1-placed. She came to North America with experience running against high caliber competition, winning the Group 3 Prix Vanteaux in May at France's famed Longchamp course when racing off a nearly eight-month layoff for former conditioner Fabrice Chappet.
Magic Attitude, out of Group 1-winner Margot Did, then ran second in the 10-furlong Group 1 Prix Saint Alary in June at Chantilly in a race won by the undefeated Tawkeel, who then captured the Group 2 Prix de la Nonette at Deauville.
In her previous effort before her Belmont Oaks victory, she competed in the Group 1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly, where she ran a strong fifth, defeated three lengths to Fancy Blue in the 1 5/16-miles test known as the French Oaks.
“She came with very precise and accurate instructions for her training and the way she runs,” Delacour said. “Fabrice knew her well and gave us the right instructions and everything has gone according to plan already.”
Magic Attitude could potentially make a start in the in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf on November 7 at Keeneland, with Delacour saying the Grade 1, $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup on October 10 at Keeneland could be a potential prep if she continues to train forwardly.
“The Queen Elizabeth could be a spot to bring her back in, but it's coming back a little quick, so everything would have to go right between now and then, but we'll definitely look at the race,” Delacour said.
Delacour won his third career Grade 1 race, with his previous two both coming in 2016 with A.P. Indian, who won the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap and the Forego during that campaign's summer meet at Saratoga Race Course.
“It's great and means a lot, because it's our first Grade 1 for Lael Stables and we've had a lot of seconds,” said Delacour, referring to 2018 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint runner-up Chalon and 2017 Grade 1 First Lady runner-up Hawksmoor. “It means a lot to win a Grade 1.”
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