Delacour says ‘New York Stakes Turf Bonus’ enticing for returning Magic Attitude

OZONE PARK, NY – Trainer Arnaud Delacour said Lael Stables’ Magic Attitude is training towards a seasonal debut on March 6 in the Hillsborough (G2) at 9 furlongs on the Tampa Bay Downs turf, he told NYRA.

“She’s doing well,” said Delacour of the 4-year-old Galileo filly, who worked a 1/2-mile in 50.60 seconds on the Tampa Bay Downs dirt on February 17. “She had a little break and has been breezing well. I’m considering running her in the Hillsborough and then take it from there.”

Magic Attitude made a victorious North American debut in September in the 1 1/4-mile Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1), part of the Turf Triple series implemented by NYRA in 2019 to showcase the best 3-year-old turf runners in the country.

The Belmont Oaks win has Magic Attitude eligible for significant bonus money should she win the $750,000 New York (G2), a 10-furlong turf test for older fillies and mares to be held June 4 at Belmont; or the $600,000 Flower Bowl (G1), an 11-furlong test for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up on September 4 at Saratoga.

“We’ll definitely keep in the back of our mind that the New York could be a very good spot for her with the bonus,” said Delacour. “It’s very appealing because she’s won at the course and going the distance, so that’s definitely something we’re thinking about.”

The “New York Stakes Turf Bonus” will provide $315,000 to the owner and $35,000 to the trainer of any previous winner of the filly Turf Triple Series races – Belmont Oaks, Saratoga Oaks or Jockey Club Oaks – who captures the 2021 edition of the New York.

Delacour and Lael Stables combined to win the 2017 New York with Hawksmoor.

In addition, the “Flower Bowl Bonus” will provide $300,000 to the owner and $30,000 to the trainer of any previous winner of a filly Turf Triple series race who wins the Flower Bowl, a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” event offering a berth in the Filly and Mare Turf (G1) in November at Del Mar.

Magic Attitude launched her career in France with conditioner Fabrice Chappet, capturing the Prix Vanteaux (G3) at Longchamp in May. Following a fifth in the Prix de Diane (G1) in July at Chantilly, Magic Attitude was sent to Delacour and promptly bested 2020 Saratoga Oaks winner Antoinette in the Belmont Oaks Invitational.

Magic Attitude completed her sophomore season with a third in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) in October over good turf at Keeneland and Delacour said the talented bay would have benefited from more time between starts.

“It was probably a combination of a few things. She was coming back three weeks after the Belmont Oaks and it would have been nice to give her more time,” said Delacour. “Some horses run well right away, and then it takes them a while to acclimate well. We were at the back of the pack and a stronger pace would have helped her to close, but I think she will probably run better on firmer turf anyway.”

Delacour said Magic Attitude has maintained her good form.

“She’s on the small side but well put together,” said Delacour. “I haven’t seen a tremendous change in her physically. She looks good and carries good weight.”

Bred in Great Britain by Katsumi Yoshida, Magic Attitude is out of the Exceed And Excel mare Margot Did, who captured the 2011 Nunthorpe (G1) at York.