Magna Fortuna, the gelding made famous by defying the odds when his dam was
One would think that a neck victory in a mid-week state-bred allowance would
“He’s a clown. He’s just a neat horse, and he loves his attention,” long-time
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A raucous ovation for the colt took place when 16 members of his ownership
group Rescue Me Racing LLC swarmed the winner’s enclosure after the race — most
of them donning yellow and black Taxi colors, including hats with the gelding’s
name.
“I’ve been in this game a long time, and part of the fun is watching these
people come to the barn and winner’s circle and experience it all. I was having
more fun watching the owners than the horse,” Boyce laughed. “Some of them were
crying and everyone was high-fiving and hugging. It was great.”
“We are so proud of him,” co-owner Laura Donohue exclaimed. “Michele had said
before the race that she just wanted to see him rate and relax. You could tell
he was relaxed down the backside. I definitely got a little nervous when I saw
that other horse (Lahshad) coming up a little bit, but by the time he got to
him, he already had it. We’re speechless, again.”
The owners have good reason to be excited about such favorable outcomes, as
expectations have never been lofty for the son of Magna Graduate. In fact, it
was not known that his dam was expecting when she was saved from her doom. While
being treated for four lame hooves, she started to show signs of pregnancy.
Then, a few months later, Taxi was born into complete obscurity.
After extensive research, it was discovered that the mare was a well-bred
Silver Hawk daughter named Silver Option, and Taxi was the offspring of a mating
with Magna Graduate, a promising first crop stallion at Darby Dan Farm in
Kentucky. A famously sound racehorse who competed at the top level, Magna
Graduate won seven graded races and finished fourth in the 2006 Dubai World Cup.
Perhaps being an underdog is a genetic trait, as he only went off as the
favorite in eight of his 36 starts, despite finishing in the top three in 22 of
those races.
On Thursday, though, the attention-loving offspring Taxi basked in his own
“He came back great and ate up good,” Boyce said. “He’s happy as can be.”
The victory has taken the trainer from hoping he would hit the board in
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“He broke well and felt really confident the entire time,” Felix said. “When
he was going into the gate, he was ready to go. I had a lot of horse left
turning for home and he really dug in to win over older horses. The owners made
me feel like it was my first win (with their celebration). They were so nice.”
“Julio has been a huge part of getting him to relax and learn. He is always
here and puts a lot of time into the horse. He rode a great race, even if he was
a couple pounds over,” Boyce joked. “Taxi has really matured. He’s definitely
getting better and progressing every day. He really laid his body down for the
first time and showed great courage and determination.”
Like any good drama, the past is definitely affecting the future of the
protagonist, as Taxi is being aimed toward more turf and Polytrack races.
“We knew he would move up on the Polytrack because of his breeding,” Boyce
explained. “With the Danzig and Silver Hawk in there, we definitely think he may
be even better on turf. The blood is there. He has a great pedigree.”
Indeed, his grandsire Honor Grades sired 1997 Mid-America Triple at Arlington
winner Honor Glide, and his damsire, the aforementioned Silver Hawk, sired
Beverly D. Stakes winner Memories of Silver, as well as English Derby winner
Benny the Dip that same year. Those stallions also tend to infuse sturdiness and
longevity into their bloodlines. Honor Glide, for example, won two Grade I races
in 38 starts over six seasons before retiring to stud. Taxi seems to have not
fallen far from that family tree.
“He’s sound and has really good wind. Conformation-wise, he’s a really good
looking little horse. He’s really well put together,” the conditioner said.
As far as what the immediate future may hold for the star of the show, “I’m
quite convinced he’ll get through his Illinois conditions well. Will he be a
stakes horse? It’s too early to say, really. But, he’s progressing and
improving, and I think you have something to work with as a trainer,” Boyce
added with a smile. “There’s a stakes on June 1 we’ll look at (Springfield
Stakes) at a mile, but we’ll let him develop and let him tell us where to go.”
According to Boyce, the show is definitely going on.
“The excitement of a win like that is what you should generate at the track.
You shouldn’t be blasé about it, like winning is old hat to you. It’s all come
together for us, fortunately, and I think the owners will have a lot of fun.”
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