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Belmont Oaks Winner Magic Attitude Came To Delacour Barn With ‘Precise Instructions’ From France

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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Magic Attitude Takes Belmont Oaks With Last-To-First Stretch Run In U.S. Debut

Trainer Arnaud Delacour expressed some concerns about the lack of pace before Saturday's Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. He was right, as the Godolphin homebred Antoinette maintained an easy lead, setting slow fractions for most of the mile and one-quarter turf test for 3-year-old fillies under John Velazquez.

But, it turns out, Delacour needn't have worried. Magic Attitude, the Lael Stables runner he sent out for her U.S. debut as an even-money favorite, easily ran down Antoinette with a powerful stretch run to win going away by 2 1/4 lengths with Javier Castellano in the saddle.

Antoinette held second, with Neige Blanche third, Setting the Mood fourth and Key Biscayne the trailer in the field of five.

Magic Attitude, a daughter of leading sire Galileo bred in England by Katsumi Yoshida, covered the distance in 2:01.14 on a firm inner turf course. The victory was her third in seven career starts, the first six of which came in France under the tutelage of Fabrice Chappet. Produced by the Exceed and Excel mare Margot Did – winner of the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes in England – Magic Attitude paid $4.30 for the win and earned $137,500 from the Belmont Oaks $242,500 purse.

Antoinette, coming off a front-running victory in the Saratoga Oaks Invitational, went straight to the front, getting the opening quarter-mile in :24.89 and the half in :49.99 while racing off the rail. Setting the Mood, along the inside, Neige Blanche between horses, and Key Biscayne to the outside, raced as a team just behind the front-runner, who passed the six-furlong marker in 1:14.17.

Put under an early hold by Castellano, Magic Attitude rated patiently in last until reaching the quarter pole after Antoinette clocked the opening mile in 1:37.91, swung out at the top of the stretch and quickly ran past her rivals on the far outside, hitting the front with an eighth of a mile to go and winning easily.

“I really like the way she did it,” said Casellano. “Watching the replays, it seemed like she could be a little bit keen. She always seemed to break well out of the gate and get good forward position in Europe. Today, she broke OK. I tried to cover up a little bit. It was her first time in the country and a mile and a quarter and you always have to save something for the end. She sat beautifully behind the speed. She had a nice rhythm. When I asked her turning for home at the quarter pole, she just took off really well. I was very excited to see the way she did it today.”

Delacour said Magic Attitude came out of quarantine with a fever and missed some training after traveling from France to the U.S. Winner in one of three starts last year at 2, the bay filly won the Group 3 Prix Vanteaux in her 3-year-old debut at Longchamp, then finished second to Tawkeel in the G1 Prix Saint Alary and fifth, beaten three lengths by winner Fancy Blue, in the G1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) at Chantilly on July 5.

“The pace was a little bit of a concern,” said Delacour. “With a five-horse field, you never know what's going to happen, but it didn't change her running style as that's how she likes to race. Javier timed it perfectly and she came with a good kick.

“Two starts ago [in the Prix Saint Alary], they were surprised because she was a little revved up and she never settled. They couldn't cover her up and she was pretty aggressive. Ever since, they've been trying to get her to relax. So, we tried to work her in the same way in the morning and put her behind horses and come with a nice run and that's what she duplicated in the afternoon. It was very exciting.”

Delacour was uncertain about Magic Attitude's next start. “We'll see. One race at a time,” he said. “The Queen Elizabeth [on Oct.10 at Keeneland] is in 21 days and might be coming back too quick. We'll let her tell us.”

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Galileo’s Magic Attitude Rolls in Belmont Oaks

Magic Attitude (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) made her Stateside debut in style with a late-surging victory as the heavy favorite in the GI Belmont Oaks Saturday, the first Grade I event of the track’s fall meet. Caboosing the quintet early, the even-money favorite–who was receiving Lasix for the first time–bided her time at the back as second-choice Antoinette (Hard Spun) clocked a half-mile in :49.99. Still last entering the far turn, the bay swung out three wide in the lane and unleashed a furious rally, powering clear late for a decisive victory. Saratoga Oaks victress Antoinette held second.

“The pace was a little bit of a concern,” said winning trainer Arnaud Delacour. “With a five-horse field, you never know what’s going to happen, but it didn’t change her running style as that’s how she likes to race. Javier [Castellano] timed it perfectly and she came with a good kick.”

On a potential start in the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf Nov. 7: “We’ll see. One race at a time. The [GI] Queen Elizabeth [II Challenge Cup] [Oct. 10 at Keeneland] is in 21 days and might be coming back too quick. We’ll let her tell us.”

“I really like the way she did it,” jockey Javier Castellano said. “Watching the replays, it seemed like she could be a little bit keen. She always seemed to break well out of the gate and get good forward position in Europe. Today, she broke OK. I tried to cover up a little bit. It was her first time in the country and a mile and a quarter and you always have to save something for the end. She sat beautifully behind the speed. She had a nice rhythm. When I asked her turning for home at the quarter pole, she just took off really well. I was very excited to see the way she did it today.”

Graduating at second asking in France for Haras Du Saubouas and trainer Fabrice Chappet, Magic Attitude checked in third in the Criterium de Lyon 15 days later. Victorious in the G3 Prix Vanteaux in May, she was privately purchased by Roy and Gretchen Jackson’s Lael Stables and was second in her first start for them in the G1 Prix Saint Alary June 14. The chestnut was fifth in her final European start in the G1 Prix de Diane July 5 for trainer Fabrice Chappet and was transferred to Delacour.

Pedigree Notes:

Magic Attitude is the 89th top-level scorer for the mighty Galileo and is bred on the same Galileo/Exceed and Excel cross as Group 1 winner Anthony Van Dyck. She is also one of 327 black-type winners and 221 graded winners for that Coolmore stalwart. Her dam, English Highweight and Group 1 winner Margot Did, is also the dam of GSW & MG1SP Mission Impassible (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Her recent produce includes the juvenile colt Pietrasanta (Jpn) (Frankel {GB}), who brought ¥210,000,000–the equivalent of $1,936,200–at the JRHA Yearling and Foal Sale; and a yearling colt by Heart’s Cry (Jpn).

Saturday, Belmont Park
BELMONT OAKS INVITATIONAL S.-GI, $242,500, Belmont, 9-19, 3yo, f, 1 1/4mT, 2:01.14, fm.
1–MAGIC ATTITUDE (GB), 121, f, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Margot Did (Ire) (Hwt. Filly at 3-Eng at 5- 7f.,
G1SW-Eng, $425,664), by Exceed And Excel (Aus)
2nd Dam: Special Dancer (GB), by Shareef Dancer
3rd Dam: Caraniya (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST GRADE I WIN. (€850,000 RNA Ylg ’18 ARAUG). O-Lael
Stables; B-Katsumi Yoshida (GB); T-Arnaud Delacour; J-Javier
Castellano. $137,500. Lifetime Record: GSW & G1SP-Fr,
7-3-1-1, $245,437. *Full to Mission Impassible (Ire), GSW &
G1SP-Fr, GISP-US, $312,159. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple
Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Antoinette, 121, f, 3, by Hard Spun
1st Dam: Shuruq, by Elusive Quality
2nd Dam: Miss Lucifer (Fr), by Noverre
3rd Dam: Devil’s Imp (Ire), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-William I. Mott. $50,000.
3–Neige Blanche (Fr), 121, f, 3, by Anodin (Ire)
1st Dam: Bianca Neve (Fr), by Muhtathir (GB)
2nd Dam: Polomia, by General Assembly
3rd Dam: Rampolda (Fr), by Saint Cyrien (Fr)
O-Madaket Stables LLC, Marsha Naify & Laura De Seroux;
B-Ecurie du Sud (FR); T-Leonard Powell. $30,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, 2 1/4, 1. Odds: 1.15, 1.35, 5.20.
Also Ran: Setting the Mood, Key Biscayne.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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Antoinette Headlines Belmont Oaks

Godolphin’s Antoinette (Hard Spun) tops a five-horse field in this year’s renewal of the GI Belmont Oaks Saturday. Winner of an off-the-turf version of the Tepin S. last year, the bay was third in both the GII Fair Grounds Oaks Mar. 21 and the Gardenia S. at Oaklawn May 1. Third in again in what is traditionally the local prep for this event, the GIII Wonder Again S. June 20, she completed the trifecta in the GI CCA Oaks July 18. Antoinette returned to the winner’s circle last time with a front-running victory in the Saratoga Oaks Aug. 16.

A pair of European invaders will take their shot at the likely favorite in Magic Attitude (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and Neige Blanche (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}). Victorious in the G3 Prix Vanteaux in May, she was privately purchased by Roy and Gretchen Jackson’s Lael Stables and was second in her first start for them in the G1 Prix Saint Alary June 14. Magic Attitude was fifth in her final European start in the G1 Prix de Diane July 5 for trainer Fabrice Chappet and was transferred to Arnaud Delacour. She receives Lasix in this first start for her new barn.

Winning two of her three starts as a juvenile in France last year, Neige Blanche was fourth in her sophomore bow Feb. 22 and was third in the Prix Caravelle May 11. She captured the G3 Prix Cleopatre June 6, after which she was privately purchased by these connections and sent stateside to Leonard Powell.

Rounding out the field are Setting the Mood (Lea), most recently a head second going 1 3/8 miles at Saratoga Aug. 26; and Key Biscayne (Brethren), who was third in the Saratoga Oaks.

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