Magical Solution Stuns Baker Entry with Niagara Win at Odds of 41-1

by Sarah Mace

At post time for the 30^th running of the $50,000 Niagara Stakes, Finger Lakes’ Fourth of July feature, the coupled entry from the stable of trainer Charlton Baker – Sweet Hot Toddy and Helyna’s My Mom – had been bet down to odds of .05-to-1 to win the six-furlong sprint for New York-bred three-year-old fillies. By the time the race was run, however, Magical Solution, the longest shot on the board, had defied expectations and crossed the finish line first for owners Fat Guys Stable and trainer Timothy Murphy. It was a first stakes win both for Magical Solution and for her 21-year-old jockey Emanuel De Deigo, who picked up the mount from Chin Yang on race day. The Niagara attracted a field of six.

Magical Solution, who was making her third start after being claimed for $7,500 on May 11^th, had run no better than 9 ½ lengths out of first place since the claim, and had never met stakes company before. She was also going to gate without her scheduled jockey. But in the end none of it mattered.

Sweet Hot Toddy won the break and was joined shortly by Royal Waltz to her inside. Magical Solution, who broke from post four raced behind the lead pair at the rail with Helyna’s My Mom racing in third just to her outside. As the leaders navigated the turn, Sweet Hot Toddy passed Royal Waltz on her outside, but there was also room for Helyna’s My Mom to advance and pass on the inside, leaving the entry-mates running one-two as the field moved into the top of the stretch. Although Helyna’s My Mom looked like she was going have the best of the stretch drive, De Deigo kept applying steady urging at the rail, and his filly responded by running down her rival late and getting the victory by a half length. Sweet Hot Toddy weakened and Warmhearted Sandy got up for third. After fractions of 22.22 and 46.06, the final time for the six furlongs was 1:13 flat. The stakes score increased Magical Solution’s earnings to $66,888 and improved her record to 3-4-1 from thirteen starts.

Bred by Barry K. Schwartz’ Stonewall Farm, where she was foaled, Magical Solution is by Stormin Fever out of the unraced Unbridled’s Song mare Boltono. Boltono, purchased by Schwartz at the 2003 Keeneland November Breeding Stock sale for $77,000, has produced two winners from two foals to start. The other, New York-bred Critical Cathy (by Gold Fever), was a multiple winner who earned $121,830.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2010/07/05/magical-solution-niagara/

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