BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Coming off of two second-place finishes in allowance company, Florida-bred graded stakes-winner Fiona’s Magic returns to black-type company Saturday at Laurel Park in the $100,000 Sensible Lady Turf Dash. The six-furlong test on the grass has attracted 13 entries, including three on the also-eligible list.
Winner of the 2024 Davona Dale (Grade 2) at Gulfstream Park, Fiona’s Magic has three starts this year, including a runner-up finish in her last race when just a half-length behind Anaita, who she faces again Saturday, in an five-furlong allowance race on the Penn National turf on Aug. 22. Trained by Edward T. Allard for Marilyn Campbell’s Stonehedge LLC, Fiona’s Magic was also second to Sensible Lady rival Flamingo Way in an upper level, $40,000 optional claiming allowance going five furlongs on yielding turf at Penn National on July 31.
In her first race in 13 month on June 28 at Laurel, Fiona’s Magic was fifth in the $123,000 Alma North going six-and-a-half furlongs on the main track on June 28.
Also bred by Stonehedge, Fiona’s Magic has won three with four seconds in 10 starts with earnings of $289,360. She is a 4-year-old daughter of St Patrick’s Day out of Mollie’s Magic, by Factum.
Jeiron Barbosa will ride Fiona’s Magic from post three.
The Elkstone Group’s Lifelovenlaughter comes into the Sensible Lady with a three-race win streak, two in stakes, all on the turf for trainer Michael Trombetta.
Lifelovenlaugher won the $100,000 Jameela going six furlongs at Laurel on June 21 then stretched out to a mile-and-a-sixteenth to win the $127,000 All Brandy at Colonial Downs on Aug. 26. She also won a second condition, $40,000 optional claiming going a mile-and-a-sixteenth at Laurel on June 25. Her only loss in four starts this year came when seventh in a second condition, $62,500 optional claiming going a mile-and-70-yards on the synthetic course at Gulfstreram Park in January.
Lifelovenlaughter sports a career ledger of six wins, three seconds and two thirds with earnings of $381,425.
Jorge Ruiz has the call on the 5-year-old Lifelovenlaughter and they have drawn post four.
The previously mentioned victory for Anaita on Aug. 22 was her second win in her last three starts.
The 6-year-old mare won a $50,000 alllowance race sprinting five furlongs on a soft turf at Penn National on July 11 before finishing fifth in a $12,500 starter allowance with an optional claiming price of $20,000 going five furlongs on the grass at Delaware Park on July 24.
Anaita is trained by Bernard Dunham for Dunham Thoroughbreds and has 13 wins, five seconds and seven thirds in 37 lifetime starts with earnings of $287,133.
She will be ridden by Wesley Ho from the outside post 10.
Rounding out the field are Sally’s Gold with Horacio Karamanos taking the riding assignment, Discreet Ops and jockey Carlos Lopez, Alla Breve also has Horacio Karamanos named to ride, Vincent Cheminaud will guide Loon Cry, Daniel Centeno will be aboard Toupie, Flamingo Way will have Andy Hernandez in the irons and Jevian Toledo has been named for Queen of the Mud (Ire). Twirling Beauty, The Amazing Mizzen and Rileys Redemption are on the also-eligible list.
Return to the September 11 issue of Wire to Wire
