Every year, both the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (USA-G1) and the Longines Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1) come up with one or more possible Cinderella stories as the potential fields for the spring Classics shape up. This year, one of the candidates for a glass slipper in the Oaks is Fiona’s Magic, who sprang a gate-to-wire upset in the Davona Dale Stakes Presented by FanDuel TV (USA-G2) at Gulfstream Park. The Stonehedge Farm South homebred showed herself to be thoroughly game as she responded well when hooked by Into Champagne and was edging away again at the finish to score by a half-length.
In fairness, the race came up substantially weaker than expected thanks to the scratch of last year’s champion 2-year-old filly, Just F Y I. Nonetheless, it was a good win at the right time of year for Fiona’s Magic, a last-out second to the speedy R Harper Rose in the Forward Gal Stakes (USA-G3). The filly now has 60 points toward a starting spot in the Kentucky Oaks, probably enough to get her into the starting gate regardless of any further developments.
Fiona’s Magic is the first stakes winner for Florida second-crop sire St. Patrick’s Day, a full brother to 2015 American Triple Crown winner American Pharoah who stands at Journeyman Stud near Ocala. St. Patrick’s Day did most of his racing in Ireland, where he was Group 3-placed, but on his brother’s record might have done better racing on dirt in the United States. Stonehedge owner Marilyn Campbell owns a 25 percent interest in the stallion, making the victory of Fiona’s Magic doubly sweet for her.
On the distaff side, Fiona’s Magic is the fourth foal of Mollie’s Magic, who had previously produced FTBOA Florida Sire Dr. Fager Stakes (USA-R) winner Cajun’s Magic to the cover of Stonehedge stallion Cajun Breeze. The dam of four winners from as many foals to race, Mollie’s Magic has since produced the unraced 2-year-old colt Blazing Hot (by four-time Florida champion sire Khozan, another stallion in which Campbell owns an interest) and a yearling colt by Cajun Breeze. Barren for 2024, she is returning to St. Patrick’s Day this spring.
Sired by Factum, a winning Storm Cat half brother to War Front who also stood at Stonehedge, Mollie’s Magic was bred in Florida by the late Gil Campbell (who co-founded Stonehedge Farm South with his wife, Marilyn). The mare never raced but is a half sister to stakes winners Two T’s at Two B (by Untuttable), Scandalous Act (by Act of Duty), and Boo Boo Kitty (by Poseidon’s Warrior), all listed as bred by Gil Campbell or Stonehedge.
Mollie’s Magic and her siblings were produced from Seductive Lady, a US$33,000 yearling purchase from the 2002 Ocala Breeders’ Sales August sale. A half sister to restricted stakes winners I’m Impressed (by Proud Birdie) and Motion to Appeal (by Bellamy Road), the daughter of multiple Grade 1 winner and Canadian champion sprinter Langfuhr had enough ability to win a first-level allowance at Philadelphia Park as a 3-year-old after taking a maiden special weight at Colonial Downs earlier in the year but in her first start at 4 was last in a US$50,000 claimer at Aqueduct, beaten nearly 30 lengths, and was promptly retired.
This family has turned out some useful runners from fairly modest opportunities, but Fiona’s Magic’s score in the Davona Dale was the biggest win for a horse from this tail-female line since Copano (a daughter of Seductive Lady’s great-granddam, Saratoga Flirt) won the Black Helen Handicap (USA-G2) and the Orchid Handicap (USA-G3) as a 5-year-old in 1977. The next step for the filly is to try a two-turn race, most likely in Gulfstream Park’s Gulfstream Park Oaks (USA-G2) at 8.5 furlongs on March 30. Her performance there will probably determine whether Fiona’s Magic can continue eying Cinderella’s footwear or if midnight arrives early.
In fairness, the race came up substantially weaker than expected thanks to the scratch of last year’s champion 2-year-old filly, Just F Y I. Nonetheless, it was a good win at the right time of year for Fiona’s Magic, a last-out second to the speedy R Harper Rose in the Forward Gal Stakes (USA-G3). The filly now has 60 points toward a starting spot in the Kentucky Oaks, probably enough to get her into the starting gate regardless of any further developments.
Fiona’s Magic is the first stakes winner for Florida second-crop sire St. Patrick’s Day, a full brother to 2015 American Triple Crown winner American Pharoah who stands at Journeyman Stud near Ocala. St. Patrick’s Day did most of his racing in Ireland, where he was Group 3-placed, but on his brother’s record might have done better racing on dirt in the United States. Stonehedge owner Marilyn Campbell owns a 25 percent interest in the stallion, making the victory of Fiona’s Magic doubly sweet for her.
On the distaff side, Fiona’s Magic is the fourth foal of Mollie’s Magic, who had previously produced FTBOA Florida Sire Dr. Fager Stakes (USA-R) winner Cajun’s Magic to the cover of Stonehedge stallion Cajun Breeze. The dam of four winners from as many foals to race, Mollie’s Magic has since produced the unraced 2-year-old colt Blazing Hot (by four-time Florida champion sire Khozan, another stallion in which Campbell owns an interest) and a yearling colt by Cajun Breeze. Barren for 2024, she is returning to St. Patrick’s Day this spring.
Sired by Factum, a winning Storm Cat half brother to War Front who also stood at Stonehedge, Mollie’s Magic was bred in Florida by the late Gil Campbell (who co-founded Stonehedge Farm South with his wife, Marilyn). The mare never raced but is a half sister to stakes winners Two T’s at Two B (by Untuttable), Scandalous Act (by Act of Duty), and Boo Boo Kitty (by Poseidon’s Warrior), all listed as bred by Gil Campbell or Stonehedge.
Mollie’s Magic and her siblings were produced from Seductive Lady, a US$33,000 yearling purchase from the 2002 Ocala Breeders’ Sales August sale. A half sister to restricted stakes winners I’m Impressed (by Proud Birdie) and Motion to Appeal (by Bellamy Road), the daughter of multiple Grade 1 winner and Canadian champion sprinter Langfuhr had enough ability to win a first-level allowance at Philadelphia Park as a 3-year-old after taking a maiden special weight at Colonial Downs earlier in the year but in her first start at 4 was last in a US$50,000 claimer at Aqueduct, beaten nearly 30 lengths, and was promptly retired.
This family has turned out some useful runners from fairly modest opportunities, but Fiona’s Magic’s score in the Davona Dale was the biggest win for a horse from this tail-female line since Copano (a daughter of Seductive Lady’s great-granddam, Saratoga Flirt) won the Black Helen Handicap (USA-G2) and the Orchid Handicap (USA-G3) as a 5-year-old in 1977. The next step for the filly is to try a two-turn race, most likely in Gulfstream Park’s Gulfstream Park Oaks (USA-G2) at 8.5 furlongs on March 30. Her performance there will probably determine whether Fiona’s Magic can continue eying Cinderella’s footwear or if midnight arrives early.
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