Life’s Magic (USA)
March 7, 1981 – August 21, 2007
Cox’s Ridge (USA) x Fire Water (USA), by Tom Rolfe (USA)
Family 4-m
March 7, 1981 – August 21, 2007
Cox’s Ridge (USA) x Fire Water (USA), by Tom Rolfe (USA)
Family 4-m
The second winner of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, Life’s Magic is not much remembered today. She deserves better. A two-time American champion, she was tough, honest, and durable and asked no quarter from either males or females. She was far more successful as a racehorse than as a broodmare despite being bred to a selection of Kentucky's best stallions.
Race record
32 starts, 8 wins, 11 seconds, 6 thirds, US$2,255,218
1983:
1984:
1985:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 118 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1983, 2 pounds below the highweighted filly, Miss Oceana, and 1 pound below the official champion juvenile filly, Althea.
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1984, 1 pound above second-rated Miss Oceana.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1985, 3 pounds below co-highweights Adored and Heatherten and tied with Dontstop Themusic.
As an individual
A good-sized, rugged bay mare, Life’s Magic had a stout constitution. She typically came from off the pace. She handled both fast and sloppy surfaces well.
As a producer
Life’s Magic produced 14 named foals, of which nine started. Seven were winners and two placed in stakes races, but none of her foals ever won a stakes race or produced a stakes winner.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Life’s Magic was bred by Mr. and Mrs. Doug Parrish in partnership with their son, Dr. Doug Parrish III. A US$310,000 yearling purchase from the 1982 Keeneland fall yearling sale, she was owned by Melvin E. Hatley, who later sold an interest in the filly to Eugene Klein. By the filly’s 4-year-old season, Klein had become her sole owner. She was trained by D. Wayne Lukas and was ridden to her triumph in the 1985 Breeders’ Cup Distaff by Angel Cordero Jr.
Following the birth of her first foal, Life’s Magic was consigned to the 1987 Keeneland November mixed sale, in foal to Mr. Prospector, and was sold to Shadwell Farm for US$5.4 million. After foaling out, she was covered by Alydar and resold through the 1988 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November sale, fetching US$4.4 million. She produced her next eight foals for Shadwell Estate Company and/or Shadwell Farm before being sold for $310,000 through the 1997 Keeneland November sale, in foal to Unbridled. She then produced two foals for the partnership of John R. Gaines and Orpendale and one for the partnership of Gaines-Gentry Thoroughbreds and Pacelco S. A. She last changed hands at the 2001 Keeneland January mixed sale when she sold to Liberation Farms, Oratis Thoroughbreds, and CHO LLC for US$75,000, in foal to Thunder Gulch. Pensioned after having failed to conceive by Thunder Gulch in 2006, she died August 21, 2007, at Trackside Farm, Versailles, Kentucky.
Pedigree notes
Life’s Magic is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to Tommy’s Folly (by Jacinto), second dam of 1993 Sword Dancer Handicap (USA-G1) winner Spectacular Tide and Grade 3 winner Heckle.
Fire Water, the dam of Life’s Magic, is a minor stakes winner and is a half sister to Grade 2-placed stakes winner Issues n’ Answers (by Jacinto), second dam of two-time Prix Royal-Oak (FR-G1) winner Amilynx and French Group 2 winner Amiwain and third dam of French Group 2 winner Zinziberine. Fire Water is also a half sister to Laura Bell (by Jacinto), dam of multiple stakes winner Lauromeo (by Gallant Romeo) and third dam of Grade 3 winner Native Regent). In addition, Fire Water is a half sister to Harbor Wine (by Herbager), dam of 1979 Norfolk Stakes (ENG-G3) winner Romeo Romani (by Jacinto) and stakes winner Herb Wine (by Full Pocket) and second dam of Group 3 winners Chicarica and Frenchman’s Bay. Finally, Fire Water is a half sister to Answers n’ Issues (by Jacinto), dam of stakes winner Sunny Issues (by Sunny’s Halo) and second dam of 2000 European champion sprinter Nuclear Debate.
Fire Water and her siblings were produced from the winner Bourbon Mist (by Double Jay), whose stakes-winning full sister Ole Liz is the dam of 1973 Columbiana Handicap (USA-G2) winner Kittiwake (by Sea-Bird), multiple Grade 3 winner Oilfield (by Hail to Reason), and multiple French stakes winner Beaconaire (by Vaguely Noble) and the second dam of multiple Grade 1 winners Miss Oceana and Sabin, 1992 Prix Jean Prat (FR-G1) winner Kitwood, Grade 2 winner Larida, and Grade/Group 3 winners Binya and Fatah Flare. Produced from the stakes-winning Roman mare Islay Mist, Bourbon Mist is also a half sister to stakes winners I Want You (by Pago Pago) and Norman Regret (by Cornish Prince).
Books and media
Footage of Life’s Magic’s win in the 1985 Breeders’ Cup Distaff can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC8ps_BPGj4.
Last updated: February 3, 2026
Race record
32 starts, 8 wins, 11 seconds, 6 thirds, US$2,255,218
1983:
- Won Oak Leaf Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Hollywood Starlet Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Norfolk Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Frizette Stakes (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes (USA-G1, 7FD, Arlington Park)
- 3rd Hollywood Futurity (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
1984:
- Won Alabama Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Mother Goose Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Beldame Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
- Won Monmouth Oaks (USA-G2, 9FD, Monmouth)
- 2nd Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Acorn Stakes (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Breeders' Cup Distaff Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Hollywood)
- 3rd Santa Susana Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Gazelle Handicap (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Belmont)
1985:
- Won Breeders' Cup Distaff Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Shuvee Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Brooklyn Handicap (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Spinster Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Keeneland)
- 2nd Hempstead Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Apple Blossom Handicap (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Oaklawn Park)
- 3rd La Canada Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Delaware Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Delaware)
Honors
- Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old filly (1984)
- Eclipse Award, American champion older female (1985)
Assessments
Rated at 118 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1983, 2 pounds below the highweighted filly, Miss Oceana, and 1 pound below the official champion juvenile filly, Althea.
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1984, 1 pound above second-rated Miss Oceana.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1985, 3 pounds below co-highweights Adored and Heatherten and tied with Dontstop Themusic.
As an individual
A good-sized, rugged bay mare, Life’s Magic had a stout constitution. She typically came from off the pace. She handled both fast and sloppy surfaces well.
As a producer
Life’s Magic produced 14 named foals, of which nine started. Seven were winners and two placed in stakes races, but none of her foals ever won a stakes race or produced a stakes winner.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Life’s Magic was bred by Mr. and Mrs. Doug Parrish in partnership with their son, Dr. Doug Parrish III. A US$310,000 yearling purchase from the 1982 Keeneland fall yearling sale, she was owned by Melvin E. Hatley, who later sold an interest in the filly to Eugene Klein. By the filly’s 4-year-old season, Klein had become her sole owner. She was trained by D. Wayne Lukas and was ridden to her triumph in the 1985 Breeders’ Cup Distaff by Angel Cordero Jr.
Following the birth of her first foal, Life’s Magic was consigned to the 1987 Keeneland November mixed sale, in foal to Mr. Prospector, and was sold to Shadwell Farm for US$5.4 million. After foaling out, she was covered by Alydar and resold through the 1988 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November sale, fetching US$4.4 million. She produced her next eight foals for Shadwell Estate Company and/or Shadwell Farm before being sold for $310,000 through the 1997 Keeneland November sale, in foal to Unbridled. She then produced two foals for the partnership of John R. Gaines and Orpendale and one for the partnership of Gaines-Gentry Thoroughbreds and Pacelco S. A. She last changed hands at the 2001 Keeneland January mixed sale when she sold to Liberation Farms, Oratis Thoroughbreds, and CHO LLC for US$75,000, in foal to Thunder Gulch. Pensioned after having failed to conceive by Thunder Gulch in 2006, she died August 21, 2007, at Trackside Farm, Versailles, Kentucky.
Pedigree notes
Life’s Magic is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to Tommy’s Folly (by Jacinto), second dam of 1993 Sword Dancer Handicap (USA-G1) winner Spectacular Tide and Grade 3 winner Heckle.
Fire Water, the dam of Life’s Magic, is a minor stakes winner and is a half sister to Grade 2-placed stakes winner Issues n’ Answers (by Jacinto), second dam of two-time Prix Royal-Oak (FR-G1) winner Amilynx and French Group 2 winner Amiwain and third dam of French Group 2 winner Zinziberine. Fire Water is also a half sister to Laura Bell (by Jacinto), dam of multiple stakes winner Lauromeo (by Gallant Romeo) and third dam of Grade 3 winner Native Regent). In addition, Fire Water is a half sister to Harbor Wine (by Herbager), dam of 1979 Norfolk Stakes (ENG-G3) winner Romeo Romani (by Jacinto) and stakes winner Herb Wine (by Full Pocket) and second dam of Group 3 winners Chicarica and Frenchman’s Bay. Finally, Fire Water is a half sister to Answers n’ Issues (by Jacinto), dam of stakes winner Sunny Issues (by Sunny’s Halo) and second dam of 2000 European champion sprinter Nuclear Debate.
Fire Water and her siblings were produced from the winner Bourbon Mist (by Double Jay), whose stakes-winning full sister Ole Liz is the dam of 1973 Columbiana Handicap (USA-G2) winner Kittiwake (by Sea-Bird), multiple Grade 3 winner Oilfield (by Hail to Reason), and multiple French stakes winner Beaconaire (by Vaguely Noble) and the second dam of multiple Grade 1 winners Miss Oceana and Sabin, 1992 Prix Jean Prat (FR-G1) winner Kitwood, Grade 2 winner Larida, and Grade/Group 3 winners Binya and Fatah Flare. Produced from the stakes-winning Roman mare Islay Mist, Bourbon Mist is also a half sister to stakes winners I Want You (by Pago Pago) and Norman Regret (by Cornish Prince).
Books and media
Footage of Life’s Magic’s win in the 1985 Breeders’ Cup Distaff can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC8ps_BPGj4.
Last updated: February 3, 2026