GLATT’S STREAKING MAGIC AT MIDNIGHT SQUARES OFF WITH WARD’S JO JO AIR IN SATURDAY’S GRADE III KEN MADDY STAKES

By Mike Willman —-

GLATT’S STREAKING MAGIC AT MIDNIGHT SQUARES OFF WITH WARD’S JO JO AIR IN SATURDAY’S GRADE III, $100,000 SENATOR KEN MADDY STAKES AS FILLIES & MARES GO 5 ½ FURLONGS ON TURF

ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 21, 2020)—Unbeaten in four starts by a combined 25 ½ lengths, trainer Mark Glatt’s Magic At Midnight will try stakes competition for the first time as she squares off with Wesley Ward’s multiple stakes winning Jo Jo Air in Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 Senator Ken Maddy Stakes which has attracted a field of seven fillies and mares three and up at 5 ½ furlongs over the Santa Anita turf.

Named for the late Central Valley-based California State Senator, the Maddy Stakes, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary on Saturday, was run as the Autumn Days Handicap prior to 1999.

MAGIC AT MIDNIGHT

Owner: Michael A. and Michael L. Moran & Joseph Moran

Trainer: Mark Glatt

Claimed for $30,000 out of a first-out 13 length romp on July 14 at Los Alamitos, this 4-year-old daughter of Midnight Lute has been nothing short of tremendous in three subsequent starts for Glatt, including a 2 ¾ length score in her only try on grass two starts back in a five furlong turf allowance at Del Mar Aug. 14. Brilliantly fast, Magic At Midnight has never been headed in all four of her starts and has been favored in her last three, the most recent in which she overcame a stumble at the break en route to a one length score in a 6 ½ furlong allowance on Sept. 7. Out of the stakes placed Dixie Union mare Magical Blend, Magic At Midnight’s value would be greatly enhanced should she win the Grade III Maddy.

JO JO AIR

Owner: Andrew Farm & Mrs. Charlie O’Connor

Trainer: Wesley Ward

A two-time ungraded stakes winner, this 4-year-old filly by Scat Daddy is well traveled, evidenced by the fact her appearance in the Maddy will mark the ninth different track she’s competed at in what will be her 13th start—all of them turf sprints. Most recently well beaten as the 4-5 favorite over a yielding course in a five furlong stakes at Pimlico Oct. 1, Jo Jo Air rallied to take Del Mar’s five furlong Daiseycutter by a neck two starts back on July 24 under Flavien Prat, with whom she’ll be reunited on Saturday. A $325,000 Keeneland September Yearling, Jo Jo Air, who is out of the Grand Slam mare Tessie Flip, will be competing in her first ever graded stakes. With an overall mark of 12-4-1-0, she has earnings of $201,474.

AN EDDIE SURPRISE

Owner: Reddam Racing, LLC

Trainer: Doug O’Neill

The leading money earner in the field, this Reddam Racing homebred 5-year-old mare by Square Eddie has been idle since rallying to win the 5 ½ furlong turf Wishing Well Stakes here on Feb. 17 and looms dangerous over a course she adores. California-bred, she’s out of the High Demand mare Dani Reese and all five of her career wins have come over the Santa Anita lawn. With an overall mark of 26-5-9-4, An Eddie Surprise will be handled by regular rider Mario Gutierrez as she tries to pad her earnings of $341,952.

THE GRADE III SENATOR KEN MADDY STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 8 of 10 Approximate post time 4:30 p.m. PT

Jo Jo Air—Flavien Prat—124
Biddy Duke—Juan Hernandez–118
An Eddie Surprise—Mario Gutierrez—124
Lakerball—Mike Smith—124
Magic At Midnight—Abel Cedillo—122
Aqua Seaform Shame—Umberto Rispoli–118
Zee Drop—Ricky Gonzalez—122

First post time for a 10-race card on Saturday is at 1 p.m. Santa Anita’s races can be viewed live and free of charge at santaanita.com.

ABOUT THE STRONACH GROUP

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The company’s consumer facing brand 1/ST (pronounced “First”) powers The Stronach Group’s forward-thinking 1/ST Racing, 1/ST Technology, 1/ST Live and 1/ST Properties businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST Horse Care mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST Racing drives the best-in-class horse racing operations at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and San Luis Rey (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, and Gulfstream Park West (Florida); and Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course – home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST Technology is horse racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX, Betmix, Monarch and XBTV brands. 1/ST Live blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality by delivering uniquely curated events such as InfieldFest and Pegasus LIV Stretch Village. 1/ST Properties is responsible for the development of the company’s live, work and play communities surrounding its racing venues including, The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST Horse Care represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred racing on and off the track. For more information please visit www.1st.com.
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