Thu | Mar 28, 2024

I’ve Got Magic casts mile-long spell

Published:Sunday | January 29, 2023 | 2:09 AMAinsley Walters - Gleaner Writer

I’VE GOT MAGIC, ridden by Tevin Foster, wins The Alexander Hamilton Memorial Trophy over a mile at Caymanas Park yesterday.
I’VE GOT MAGIC, ridden by Tevin Foster, wins The Alexander Hamilton Memorial Trophy over a mile at Caymanas Park yesterday.

UNITED STATES-BRED I’VE GOT MAGIC wrested the lead from compatriot LURE OF LUCY a furlong and a half out to stamp his class on open-allowance company in yesterday’s Alexander Hamilton Memorial at a mile, completing three wins from his last four starts.

Sent off as a 1-5 chalk, I’VE GOT MAGIC kept LURE OF LUCY honest from the gate, ensuring the in-form mare could not settle on the lead with her 12lb advantage.

Omar Walker used every tactic he gleaned in securing six jockeys’ titles, riding a tight race on the lead, keeping LURE OF LUCY just off the rail, hoping Tevin Foster would have fallen for his gamesmanship and make a potentially risky inside bid with the home turn fast approaching.

However, Foster spotted Walker’s intent and switched I’VE GOT MAGIC to the outside two and a half furlongs out, attacking off the home turn, before gaining the lead early in the stretch run.

Walker tried rousing LURE OF LUCY but she was no match for I’VE GOT MAGIC, who pulled clear, winning by three lengths in a slow 1:42.0, running into a strong backstretch wind, which prevailed all afternoon.

DUKE closed late to snatch second, by a nose, from a tiring LURE OF LUCY, whose strablemate, MINIATURE MAN, made a bid off the home turn but flattened in the straight.

DRIVING FINISH

I’VE GOT MAGIC closed a two-timer for leading-rider Foster, who opened the 10-race card astride ASURETY, winning in a driving finish from JUPITER MAN, who was afterwards disqualified and placed third behind MILLINIUM STAR for interference in the stretch run.

Foster’s two-timer kept him three wins clear of Reyan Lewis, who also rode two winners – 7-5 favourite APHELIOS in the fifth and 11-1 outsider POSING ALREADY in the 10th – to maintain his chase in the jockeys’ race.

Meanwhile, Dane Dawkins, who secured his first riders’ title last season, gave reminders that he is the reigning champion, booting home back-to-back winners – BIG GUY INTHESKY and STRANGER DANGER – moving his tally to four wins, seven behind Foster, in what appears to be an intriguing race for the 2023 jockeys’ title.

Racing continues this afternoon with another 10-race card, the big draw being a Reggae 6 Mandatory Payout, featuring a $7.7 million single-winner bonus carried over from yesterday’s meet.