Magic Michael rallies from last to first to take Greenwood Cup by a neck

September 26, 2021

BENSALEM, Pa. – Morris Kernan Jr., Yo Berb’s Racing and Jagger Inc.’s Magic Michael used his home court advantage to earn his first stakes victory in the $200,000 Greenwood Cup.

Magic Michael settled at the back of field as Sea Foam set the pace through fractions of :24.82, :50.07 and 1:16.13. Sea Foam led for the mile and then stopped finishing eighth. 

Sheer Flatter prompted the pace outside, took over midway on the final turn and continued gamely for third place. Last Samurai was far behind early then rallied to the front in midstretch passing Sheer Flatter but was outfinished in the final stages as Magic Michael stretched out in final strides to win by a neck. 

Lookin At Roses settled off the pace, moved closer into the far turn then flattened out to finish fourth. Settling close up wide for a mile Moretti gradually weakened. Saving ground off the pace, Shooger Ray Too made a bid on the final turn then gave way. Math Wizard and Forewarned complete the order of finish. 

“The longer I was sitting, the more he was wanting to go, and once I set him up and got him up to third, man he really took off,” said Frankie Pennington, who won his second race on the Pennsylvania Derby undercard. “He is very consistent, Jamie (Ness), does a great job with him, and I think the more distance the better with this horse and he was right on point.”

Magic Michael, who covered the 1½ miles in 2:32.01 and paid $11.00 to win, has now won 7-of-8 races at Parx for leading trainer Jamie Ness, who claimed the 4-year-old gelding for $30,000 at Churchill Downs on Nov. 14, 2020.”

“You know, we are local. A big day. Took a little bit of a shot here but the horse seems to do well over this track,” Ness said. “We have been pointing to this race for two months. It came up a little stronger than we thought it would. But we are here, took a shot and my jock knows this track real well. I think he won the race for me today.” 

 Parx Press Release
Photo: Magic Michael (4) ridden by Frankie Pennington won the $200,000 Grade III Greenwood. Last Samurai (9) finished second. Photo By Barbara Weidl/EQUI-PHOTO

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