Jody’s Pride splashes clear in Busher; Fiona’s Magic wires Davona Dale

Mar 02, 2024 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) star Just F Y I was scratched from her intended comeback in Saturday’s $210,000 Davona Dale (G2) at Gulfstream Park, but Jody’s Pride, the Breeders’ Cup runner-up, returned to win the $200,000 Busher S. at Aqueduct.

Jody’s Pride was the only favorite to prevail in this weekend’s action on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. Fiona’s Magic upset the Davona Dale, and Maxisuperfly surprised in Friday night’s Cincinnati Trophy at Turfway Park.

Busher S.

After sustaining her first loss by a neck to Just F Y I at Santa Anita, Jody’s Pride figured to rebound back at Aqueduct, the scene of her Matron S. romp two starts back. The Jorge Abreu pupil accordingly went off as the 0.95-1 favorite, and she ultimately asserted her class.

Parx shipper Carmelina was intent on continuing the theme of upsets, going straight to the lead on the sloppy track. Jody’s Pride was well placed by new pilot Jose Lezcano, who had her in a close tracking position and poised to pounce.

Rounding the turn, the top two began to get away from the rest of the field. Jody’s Pride inched closer, but Carmelina proved a stubborn foe and made her work a bit. The favorite had more than enough in reserve, however, and overpowered Carmelina in the final furlong.

Jody’s Pride splashed 2 1/2 lengths clear, finished the mile in 1:38.49, and earned 50 more Oaks points. In the process, the daughter of Triple Crown champion American Pharoah surged to the top of the Oaks leaderboard with 65 points overall.

#6 Jody's Pride wins the Busher S. at Aqueduct in her 3YO debut to pick up 50 #KentuckyOaks points! 🌷🏆

Jose Lezcano was up for trainer Jorge Abreu!

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/R79glIuUGS

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) March 2, 2024

Carmelina received 25 points in second. Another 2 1/2 lengths back in third came late-running Gin Gin, the Busanda S. winner who added 15 points for a total of 41. Aoife’s Magic took fourth (10 points), although not an early Oaks nominee, and Regulatory Risk retreated to fifth (five points). Sicilian Princess and Princess Mayfair, who was restless in the starting gate, concluded the order of finish.

Owned by Parkland Thoroughbreds and Sportsmen Stable, Jody’s Pride sports a 4-3-1-0 mark with $590,250 in earnings. She was bred in Kentucky by Parkland’s Steve Weston. Her dam (mother) is Jody’s Song, a half-sister (by Scat Daddy) to multiple New York-bred stakes winner and Grade 1-placed Make Mischief.

Davona Dale (G2)

In Just F Y I’s absence, unbeaten stakes debutante Leslie’s Rose became the prohibitive odds-on favorite, only she couldn’t kick on enough to justify her status.

Instead, it was the 9-1 shot Fiona’s Magic who pulled off the front-running coup. Second in the seven-furlong Forward Gal (G2) last out at Gulfstream, the Stonehedge homebred faced a question on the step up to a mile in the Davona Dale.

Fiona’s Magic, by American Pharoah’s full brother St Patrick’s Day, delivered the answer in a gutsy performance. The Michael Yates trainee easily secured the early lead with Tyler Gaffalione, stalked by Queen’s Martini and Into Champagne wider out. Leslie’s Rose saved ground in fourth, and tried to advance on the inside into the stretch, but lacked the requisite punch.

Into Champagne then loomed the biggest danger, challenging the pacesetter and appearing poised to edge ahead. But Fiona’s Magic dug in, found more, and repelled Into Champagne by a half-length in 1:37.16.

Adding 50 points to her ledger, Fiona’s Magic now has a total of 60 on the Oaks leaderboard. Into Champagne opened her account with 25 points. Leslie’s Rose checked in third (15 points), and Queen’s Martini followed in fourth (10 points). Whocouldaskformo, most recently runner-up in the Suncoast S., never factored in fifth (five points) but increased her tally to 15 points. New Diamond trailed.

Fiona’s Magic has bankrolled $250,910 from her 5-3-2-0 line. She is the second stakes winner produced by Mollie’s Magic, after Florida-bred stakes scorer Cajun’s Magic. Mollie’s Magic is by Factum, a half-brother (by Storm Cat) to international sire War Front.

Cincinnati Trophy

Maxisuperfly was coming off a stalking third-place effort in a starter allowance, versus lesser competition, but in her stakes debut in the Cincinnati Trophy, she led throughout to spring a 23-1 upset.

Trained by Eric Foster for Maxis Stable, Foster Family Racing, and Chris Vitale, Maxisuperfly had broken her maiden in front-running fashion over the same one-mile trip on Jan. 18. Jockey Walter Rodriguez made sure to return to those tactics in the Cincinnati Trophy, and Maxisuperfly couldn’t be caught. The chestnut filly opened up down the stretch and had 1 1/2 lengths to spare at the wire in a final time of 1:37.31 on the Tapeta surface.

#5 Maxisuperfly goes gate-to-wire at 23/1 to pick up 20 #KentuckyOaks points in the Cincinnati Trophy S. @turfwaypark! 🌷

Walter Rodriguez was aboard for trainer Eric Foster!

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/MXBlW7zxxf

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) March 2, 2024

Maxisuperfly collected 20 Oaks points while improving her record to 5-2-1-1, $124,947. Barbratina closed the gap late for second, good for 10 points (if she’s made eligible for the Oaks). Living Magic, the 2-1 favorite, picked up six points as a one-paced third. Everland, who beat stablemate Maxisuperfly last time out, rallied belatedly for fourth (four points), and Cozee Rags (two points) rounded out the top five in the 10-filly field.

Bred by historic Calumet Farm, Maxisuperfly was purchased for $18,000 as a yearling at Keeneland September. She is by Optimizer, a versatile son of turf champion English Channel who competed in all three jewels of the 2012 Triple Crown and nearly reached millionaire status. Maxisuperfly’s dam, the Tapit mare Firefly, is herself a half-sister to Grade 3 winner La Traviata, who is responsible for Irish classic heroine Seventh Heaven as well as Group 1 scorer Crusade.