Photo: Hollywood Park
Making
his first start beyond 6 ½ furlongs, Just Magic was an easy winner of a $44,000
optional claimer Thursday at Hollywood Park.
Ridden
by Joel Rosario, the 3-year-old Five Star Day colt out of the Mr. Redoy mare
Magic Sister assumed command immediately, set a restrained pace and was never
menaced in the final quarter of a mile.
Owned
by breeder Budget Stable and trained by Janet Armstrong, Just Magic, the 2-1
second choice in the field of five, ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.32 while
winning by 3 ¾ lengths.
The
victory was the second in four starts for Just Magic and hiked his earnings to
$65,360. He has not finished worse than third.
Giving
Rosario a sweep
of the early double after he won the first race with 9-1 shot Ascot’s
Highflyer, Just Magic paid $6, $2.40 and $2.20.
Runner-up
Lions Story, the 1-2 favorite, wound up 1 ¾ lengths in front of Gilligan,
returning $2.10 and $2.10. Gilligan, who finished third for the sixth time in
24 lifetime starts, paid $3.60 to show.
Boulder
Creek and Milty
Way completed the order
of finish.
The
loss was the sixth in a row for Lions Story since his maiden win last Aug. 1 at
Del
Mar. The son of Wildcat Heir has been the public choice in his four most recent
defeats.
Racing
resumes Friday. Post time is 7:05 p.m.
At
the conclusion of the eighth and final race – approximately 10:30 p.m. – a
concert starring Flock Of Seagulls and When In Rome will begin at the North
Park Lawn.