K and K Stables and Brian Pitnick’s STELLAR MAGIC (Western Fame) upset 3-5
favorite Texcess (In Excess [Ire]) in Saturday’s $100,000
San Mateo Mile S. at
Bay Meadows after closing to score by 1 1/2 lengths. Stellar Magic broke well
under Dennis Carr before drifting back to rate through fractions of :22
3/5, :45 2/5 and 1:09 3/5 as Texcess and California Choice (High Yield) battled
for the lead. Trained by Pitnick, the bay gelding swung to the outside as the pack left the
second turn and entered the stretch three wide, rallying for the victory and
stopping the clock in 1:35 2/5 for the fast track event.
Stellar Magic left the gate at 8-1 to pay $18, $5.20 and $4.20, keying $1
exotics of $15.90 (exacta) and $182.80 (trifecta). Texcess gave $2.40 and $2.20
for second while King Mobay (King of the Hunt) crossed the line nine lengths
farther back in third to return $5.60 at 39-1. Chips are Down (Distorted Humor),
Talking to John (Souvenir Copy), Sharp Writer (Capote) and California Choice
rounded out the order of finish.
Stellar Magic broke his maiden first out before finishing a disappointing
seventh in his first test of the stakes waters. He followed that up with a
four-length win against allowance company prior to Saturday’s victory.
Stellar Magic now boasts a record of 4-3-0-0 with earnings of $95,398. He was
bred by Applebite Farms in California and is out of Lucky Starlett (Something
Lucky), making him full brother to an unnamed yearling filly. Stellar Magic was
purchased for $17,000 as a Barrettes May two-year-old.