Simply ‘Magic’ in Alexander Hamilton Memorial Trophy run
He may have made it a bit more difficult than it should have been, but Phillip Feanny’s I’ve Got Magic delivered as expected nonetheless, topping the $1.29-million Alexander Hamilton Memorial Trophy event over a mile (1,600m) in fine style at Caymanas Park on Saturday.
Piloted by leading rider Tevin Foster, the American-bred five-year-old bay I’ve Got Magic (Fast Anna-Lil Miss Richie) was always a cut above his four rivals in the three-year-old and upwards Open Allowance contest and performed accordingly in the three-length romp.
However, Foster gave supporters a brief scare approaching the stretch run as he gradually lost momentum when he switched I’ve Got Magic on the outside after comfortably tracking Jason DaCosta’s American filly Lure of Lucy (Omar Walker) on the inside rails from the off.
That switch not only allowed Lure of Lucy to get first run in the homestretch, but also gave Duke (Dane Dawkins) and Miniature Man (Abigail Able) a brief look in, as both came with menacing runs on the wide outside.
Still, Foster, with all his experience, made the necessary corrections, and I’ve Got Magic briskly joined Lure of Lucy before leaving rivals in his wake at the furlong pole to make it a mere formality. Duke closed to snatch second from Lure of Lucy, with Minature Man completing the frame.
The Lakeland Farms-owned I’ve Got Magic stopped the clock in a flat 1:42.0, behind splits of 24.3, 48.2 and 1:15.0.
It was the second win on the card for Foster, who earlier won the opening event aboard Edward Stanberry’s Asurety. His tally now stands at 11 wins this season, three ahead of Reyan Lewis, who also had a double aboard Aphelios in the fifth for Phillip Elliott and Robert Pearson’s Posing Already the curtain-call event.
Reigning champion jockey Dane Dawkins took his tally to four this season as he too had a double about Gary Subratie’s highly thought of three-year-old Big Guy In The Sky in the third and Stranger Danger for Fitzgerald Richards in the fourth.
Subratie, whose other winner was Sistren Treasure, ridden by Raddesh Roman in the eighth event, shared the trainers honours with Elliott, who earlier won the second event with Storm Valley piloted by Omar Walker.
Racing continues today with another 10-race programme.
— Sherdon Cowan
