Hari Magic, guided expertly by Ruben Silvera, dominated the seven-furlong sprint on Saturday at Aqueduct Racecourse in the Staten Island Division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series, winning decisively for eligible New York fillies and mares.
The 7-year-old New York-bred filly by Al Khali, trained and co-owned by Rudy Rodriguez and Stephen Speranza, has entered two races this year with one win. This victory marked her 12th win in 48 starts and gave her her first stakes triumph after five attempts.
“She’s been a consistently honest filly since joining us,” said trainer Rodriguez. “This was only her third race with us, so maybe the third time was the charm. I really appreciate Ruben’s aggressive and smart riding style. I expected the pace to be around 21 or 22 seconds, but hitting 23 seconds was a solid pace given the track conditions.”
Despite Stone Smuggler being pushed wide early by Manny Franco, Silvera quickly asserted the lead with Hari Magic, setting a brisk opening quarter-mile in 23.15 seconds on the challenging, rough track.
Silvera commented, “She thrives on rough tracks. I aimed for a quick start, intended to lead comfortably, and then see what would unfold.”
Sunday Girl, considered a strong contender at 2-5 odds, stayed near the front but slipped back by the half-mile, clocking 46.38 seconds as Hari Magic maintained her lead turning into the stretch.
As Solo Shot, ridden by Jaime Rodriguez, challenged on the inside in the final stretch, Hari Magic held steady, shifting outside in the last sixteenth. Although Solo Shot regained some momentum, Hari Magic finished first by half a length with a final time of 1:23.84. Midtown Lights, Stone Smuggler, Sunday Girl, and Storm Changer followed closely. Hari Magic finished three lengths ahead of third place finisher Intense.
An objection from Jaime Rodriguez regarding interference in the stretch was reviewed but ultimately dismissed.
Silvera noted, “I heard Solo Shot close by but kept my line firm. If I’d moved, she might have clipped me.”
Solo Shot’s Jaime Rodriguez, whose horse was a 30-1 long shot, explained, “I initially sought some space but didn’t want to go too wide while waiting for an opening. When I got her out, she responded well but it was too late.”
Trainer Rudy Rodriguez reflected that Hari Magic’s victory, her fourth on a wet track, was aided by the sloppy conditions that likely hampered favorite Sunday Girl.
“The wet track suited her style perfectly,” Rodriguez said. “When they hit 23 seconds early on such a tough track, I thought our chances looked good. It probably wasn’t Sunday Girl’s day today—she seemed to struggle with the track, while Hari Magic was thriving on it.”
Owned by Wachtel Stables, Hari Magic, a daughter of Smokin Mel mare Smokin’ Sue, earned $68,750 for this win, boosting her career record to 48 starts with 12 wins, 9 second-place, and 7 third-place finishes, and total earnings of $776,768. Her win paid $27.16 on a $2 bet.
Fan Take: This impressive win by Hari Magic highlights the resilience and competitiveness of New York-bred horses on challenging tracks, reminding fans that grit and agility can overshadow even favored contenders. It adds an exciting layer to the sport, showcasing how strategic riding and a horse’s adaptability can turn the tide in high-stakes races.
