Literary Critic, a 3YO filly trained by City Zip trained by Clifford Sise for Pam and Martin Wygod, is a horse that we showcased in our “Pedigree of the Day” program several weeks ago.  Today, she was back on the track at Del Mar. This time the filly ran around two turns, going 11/16-miles on the turf.  And, this time, she had no real competition.

Literary Critic broke sharply, under the guidance of jockey Kent Desormeux, and quickly moved to a prominent and impressive lead.  A lead that she never gave up, running off to a 11/2-length victory at odds of 4-1.

This is another graduate of our “Pedigree of the Day” feature to break their maiden in impressive fashion.

 

A photo of the late Bernstein, who stood at Castleton Lyons is on the jump page.

Update: Blake’s Magic — who we have claimed to be a good “claim prospect” since February — was picked up by trainer Teresa Connelly for new owners, Martinez Polo and Racing, after running a game, closing third in a 61/2F event at Presque Isle.  She stalked the pace and closed as much as she could to be beaten only two lengths.

The race, on the all weather track, and the distance are not the best conditions for this mare.  She prefers two turns on grass.  And, I’m sure she will get a chance to run there again with her new connections.

Good luck to them.  This is a very game filly, who tries hard all the time and with a pedigree that is very nice, as well. Back to the original story:

Each day, we will look all over the country to discover a horse running that has a pedigree worth noting. We will not always pick a stakes race. In fact, we may even try to find a horse running in a claiming race that may just have a pedigree worth noting. And, you may argue that there is a horse running on that day that deserves to be noted more than the one that we have selected. If so, then submit your horse and your arguments. We may print your selection and your short bio. We hope to engage conversation.

Today’s Selection: Blake’s Magic is a 7YO mare by Bernstein, who will be making her ninth start of 2017 if she goes from the entry box to the starting gate on Sunday, Aug. 13.  This is a mare that I actually looked at claiming myself all the way back on Feb. 3, when she was entered and ran at Tampa Bay Downs.  She won that day, in an easy, and, equally, impressive fashion.  On Sunday, she will run on the “all weather track” and not the turf, which I think she prefers.  And, she will be backing up to a distance that may be too short for her, as well, going only 61/2 furlongs.  But she is a determined runner, with a very interesting page behind her.  Let’s take a look:

Owner: Robert D. Bone

Trainer: Jamie Ness

Jockey: Pablo Morales

Auction History: The last time Blake’s Magic was entered in a public auction was 2014 at the Barretts Equine Limited  July Paddock Sale at Del Mar.  Then, she was not sold by her consignor, SGV Thoroughbreds, when she did not meet her reserve price of $57,000.

Sire: Bernstein, born in 1997, was a modest Stakes winner who accumulated only about $173,000 in career earnings in England and Ireland, but did win the Coolmore Stud Home Champions Concorde Stakes, a Group 3 event.  And, his greatest success at stud, prior to his unfortunate death from the complications of colic on Oct. 23, 2011, was in South America, where he has been the leading sire twice.  Still, he had some very notable runners here in North America, too.  He is the sire of Tepin, a Champion in the ole’ U.S. of A. who won over $4.4 million — including the Breeders’ Cup Mile.  He is also the sire of Goshawk, a Champion in Japan.  And, he is the sire of two champs in Argentina. But the real story behind Bernstein may be yet to come, and yet to be written.  This son of the great Storm Cat, and out of the Affirmed mare La Affirmed, may still leave a mark on the breed as a good broodmare sire. At least, I think so. And, I will be looking for some of his daughters on the track to test my breeding theory soon.

First Dam: Kinetigal was a fine runner in her own right.  She had 5 wins from the ages of 3 to 5, and, although she did not bold face her name in the record books with any black type, she did earn over $111,000 at the racetrack.  Kinetigal has also been a success story on the farm.  She has thrown 11 foals to date, with 8 of them making the races and 5 of them becoming winners.  Her top runner was the Langfuhr colt Mobil, who was a multiple Graded Stakes winner in Canada and the Champion Older Horse there, as well.  Mobil won 12 times from the ages of 2 to 5 and earned over $1.8 million in a brilliant race career.  He, too, became a sire.  In addition, Kinetigal is the producer of Kinkennie, a Bold Ruckus gelding who won 12 times and lodged a third in the G3 Queen’s Plate Stakes.

Second Dam: Kenergy, by King Emperor, had three wins in her abbreviated race career which lasted only two years.  In that time, though, she did register a third in a stakes race at Santa Anita.  This mare was never overly successful throwing runners, but she does bring a lot of pedigree, deep blood, and racing roots to her pedigree.  Kenergy is a half-sister to the very nice race mare Between the Hedges, who won the G2 Arlington Matron Handicap and earned over $152,000 at the races.  Between the Hedges is the dam of the filly Stormy Krissy — who just so happens to be by Storm Cat, too.  Stormy Krissy had seven wins from the ages of 2 to 4 — including a victory in the Correction Handicap at Aqueduct and a second in the G3 Interborough Handicap.

Racing Record: Blake’s Magic will be making her 31st career start when she steps into the starting gate the next time.  In her career, she has earned her way to the winner’s circle 10 times, with six seconds and four thirds.  For her efforts, she has earned over $242,855 and she has done enough to certainly warrant a shot in the breeding shed — which is truly the reason why I thought she would be worth a claim drop way back in February. But there is always a danger in the “Claiming Game.”  Maybe this gutty, grinding, ultra consistent mare — who is a half sister to a Canadian Champ — can’t carry a foal?

Ultimate Note: Although she is not a stakes winner, Blake’s Magic does pay her own way at the racetrack.  This year alone, Jamie Ness and his wife have put the tack on this filly in the afternoon 8 times.  She has been scratched several times.  And, she has been breezed in-between races.  And, she has put up 2 wins, 3 seconds and a third.  This year, alone, she has earned $37,165.  One of these days, she will not race any more.  But if you are looking for a game filly with a good page behind her, well, she’s for sale on Sunday at Parx.  For only $16,000.  I think she is well worth it.