P.G. Johnson S. | Horse Racing Free Tips

Magic Cross (Good Magic) aired by 7 1/4 lengths in a modestly graded Belmont maiden July 8 and progressed from there into the GIII Adirondack S., where she finished 10 lengths in back of Brightwork (Outwork) in fourth.

Stretching out in distance for this scheduled turf debut, the bay was quickest into stride and made the running while pressed along to her outside by Takemetothebeach (Take Charge Indy). Those two went at it headlong into the stretch, but Magic Cross did the better work in the final furlong and won by a clear margin. Heavily favored Miz Sense (Street Sense) dumped Jose Ortiz just prior to loading, was caught after running free for about a quarter mile and was ordered scratched by the stewards.

“I was playing the track a bit,” said Junior Alvarado, who earlier in the day was named the recipient of the Mike Venezia Award. “The track has been carrying speed today, so I was breaking [out of post one] and I knew she had speed and she's been on the muscle lately. I just broke out of there well and hustled her out of there. After that, I just tried to get her to relax so she can finish and she really showed up today.”

Winning trainer Bill Mott said he would look to run Magic Cross back in the GII Miss Grillo S. at Aqueduct Oct. 1, a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Magic Cross is the first stakes winner from the second crop of her successful young stallion and his 12th overall. The winner was produced by a half-sister to the stakes-winning turf horse Mohs (Hard Spun) and MSP Grandaria (Curlin). Her third dam Baghdaria was a three-time winner at Grade III level and is herself a half-sister to Classic winner Shackleford, GISW Lady Joanne, MGSW Afleeting Lady (Afleet Alex) and SW/MGSP Stephanoatsee.

Be Jeweled is also the dam of a yearling City of Light filly, a weanling colt by Yaupon and was covered by Cyberknife this season. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

P. G. JOHNSON S., $139,500, Saratoga, 8-30, 2yo, f, 1m (off turf), 1:40.15, ft.
1–MAGIC CROSS, 120, f, 2, by Good Magic
1st Dam: Be Jeweled, by Tiznow
2nd Dam: Bagh of Jewelz, by A.P. Indy
3rd Dam: Baghdaria, by Royal Academy
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. ($112,500 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-James S Karp; B-Phil & Christine Hatfield (KY); T-William I Mott; J-Junior Alvarado. $82,500. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $144,000.
2–Takemetothebeach, 120, f, 2, Take Charge Indy–Street Doll, by Street Cry (Ire). 1ST BLACK-TYPE. ($18,000 Ylg '22 FTKOCT). O-S Matthew Kintz & James Fisher; B-Stillmeadow Farm LLC (KY); T-S Matthew Kintz. $30,000.
3–Dancing Spirit, 122, f, 2, Social Inclusion–Dancing Sparks, by Jump Start. 1ST BLACK-TYPE. O/T-Adam Rice; B-Glenn E Brok LLC (PA). $18,000.
Margins: 4HF, 4 3/4, 44. Odds: 0.65, 5.20, 1.65.
Also Ran: Villi Olento. Scratched: Brocknardini, Cynane, Gala Brand, Hard to Justify, Madame Mischief, Miz Sense, She Feels Pretty.

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Be Your Best made the most of a picture-perfect trip when debuted over this same track and distance July 31, sitting off the pace and powering home late to score by 3 1/4 lengths en route to a 'TDN Rising Star' nod. Bumped up to stakes company in just her second start, Be Your Best broke as the 6-5 choice and sat closer to the frontrunners this time, racing wide into the first turn in pursuit from third. Settled into a good stride against the hedge up the backstretch, she saved ground around the far turn before angling out two wide to challenge Recognize for the front. As room there closed, she tipped back to the rail in mid stretch and rallied through a tight spot inside to take command with a furlong to run. Whichwaze was closing behind but Be Your Best was already well clear for the 3 3/4-length win.

“The filly was so easy to ride,” said winning jockey Jose Ortiz. “She did whatever I asked her to do. She relaxed well and had a beautiful turn of foot turning for home. The rail opened up and she gave it to me. I feel like she didn't give me 100 percent – she was playing with her ears passing the wire. She's happy and Horacio [De Paz] has done an amazing job with her.”

Out of a full-sister to GSP Bay of Plenty and a half-sister to GISP Fortify (Distorted Humor), Be Your Best hails from the extended family of MG1SW Flagbird (Nureyev) as well as GISW & GI Longines Kentucky Oaks runner-up Little Belle (A.P. Indy). She is her dam's last reported foal. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

P. G. JOHNSON S., $150,000, Saratoga, 9-1, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:45.67, gd.
1–BE YOUR BEST (Ire), 122, f, 2, by Muhaarar (GB)
                1st Dam: Kamakura, by Medaglia d'Oro
                2nd Dam: Kotuku (GB), by A.P. Indy
                3rd Dam: Flagbird, by Nureyev
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Michael J. Ryan; B-St. Croix
Bloodstock (IRE); T-Horacio De Paz; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $82,500.
Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $140,250.
2–Whichwaze, 120, f, 2, Cross Traffic–Deherewego, by Dehere.
($4,500 Wlg '20 KEENOV; $15,000 Ylg '21 OBSOCT).
1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Tina Casse; B-Old Chapel Farm LLC (VA);
T-Mark E. Casse. $30,000.
3–Recognize, 122, f, 2, Bolt d'Oro–Avendesora, by
Majesticperfection. ($270,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $190,000 RNA
2yo '22 OBSAPR). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Sequel Racing & Cypress
Creek Equine; B-Sequel Stallions NY & Lakland Farms (NY);
T-William I. Mott. $18,000.
Margins: 3 3/4, HF, NO. Odds: 1.35, 19.20, 10.90.
Also Ran: Idea Generation (Ire), Pachuca, Damaso, Lady Jasmine, Indian Spideroo. Scratched: Leave No Trace.

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