Magic Circle leads all the way in Busanda
Jan 23, 2022
J.W. Singer’s Magic Circle controlled proceedings as the 1.05-1 favorite in Sunday’s $100,000 Busanda S. at Aqueduct. Hustled to the front by jockey Jose Ortiz, the Rudy Rodriguez trainee held sway to earn her first stakes win and 10 additional Kentucky Oaks (G1) points.
Magic Circle now has a total of 13 points, having finished fourth in the Frizette (G1) and most recently third in the Demoiselle (G2) in her prior scoring races. In between, she was runner-up in the Tempted S.
Although the 1 1/8-mile Busanda marked a stakes breakthrough, Magic Circle’s performance didn’t dispel the question of how far she wants to go in top company. The daughter of Kantharos enjoyed the advantage of being the speed on the rail over this track.
Beating Waters of Merom to the early lead, Magic Circle soon found her comfort zone. Rosebug advanced to second on the clubhouse turn and prompted all the way down the backstretch, but began to be nudged along.
Magic Circle, in contrast, was still cruising, and she pulled away from Roseburg entering the far turn. The favorite opened up by five lengths in midstretch, then appeared to tire through a final furlong in :13.78. Magic Circle had done enough to maintain a 2 3/4-length margin at the wire in 1:51.29.
“She broke really sharp and put me there by herself,” Ortiz told the New York Racing Association. “She was traveling very nicely the first quarter. She was pulling me a little too much. I was a little bit nervous and I just wanted to put my hands down and relax and she finally did passing the seven furlongs. When she entered the backside she was completely relaxed and going a very decent cruising speed. She didn't walk the dog, but the track is fast and inside is good, so I wasn't afraid to let her go.
“When the turn was coming, I tried to open up. I asked for a little bit and she responded well. I just let her go and open up a little and I put my hands down and relaxed and she listened to me. When I was ready to move around the quarter pole, she responded well.”
Morning Matcha, the 2.05-1 second choice, rallied from well back for second in a race that didn’t set up well for her. Now with four Oaks points in the bank, the Butch Reid filly could add blinkers next time.
Also doing her best work late was third-placer Reigning Chick, who earned two points. Rosebug retreated to fourth and took home one point. Waters of Merom and the tailed-off Gamestonks concluded the order of finish.
Magic Circle improved her record to 5-2-1-1, $194,000. Bred by Manitou Farm in Kentucky, the chestnut sold for $50,000 as a newly-turned yearling at Keeneland January and for $110,000 as an OBS Spring juvenile. She is out of the Distorted Humor mare Magic Humor, from the family of Canadian champion Leigh Road and multiple Group 2-winning miler Sure Blade.
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