CJ Thoroughbreds' Tom's Magic Conjures Nice Score In Tale of the Cat at Monmouth

By J.N. Campbell, via. TDN

Tom's Magic | Equi-Photo/Bill Denver

With a strong kick down the lane in the Tale of the Cat Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday, Tom's Magic (Justify) netted the second black-type win of his career and the Ontario-bred is intended for the August running of the King's Plate at Woodbine, according to his trainer.

The chestnut came on the scene last fall and at second asking graduated by 1 3/4 lengths over the grass at Fair Grounds Dec. 22. The son of Justify then won the Black Gold Stakes at course and distance in what was his 3-year-old debut Mar. 1. Last seen running a well-beaten ninth in the GIII Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland Apr. 7, the colt came into this spot tabbed as the 70 cents on the dollar chalk.

Tom's Magic rolled out of the chute to settle in the third position along the rail as the field was taken into the first turn by a couple of longshots. With a pedestrian pace north of 49 through the first half mile, the Michael Stidham trainee looked cool as a cucumber as he waited for his tap to go. That signal came around the far turn as Tom's Magic tipped to the three path and unleashed a devastating stride to clear down the lane. The 3-year-old got his picture taken with room to spare.

“His first start was long on the grass and we always felt that long on the turf was where he was going to be best,” said trainer Michael Stidham. “From the outset he did everything the right way in the mornings. But you don't get to work much on the grass, so until you get him on the grass you don't know for sure. You can see what kind of ability he has. Right off the bat you could tell there was some extra talent that he had.

“The fact that he is an Ontario, Canada-bred we're hoping we'll be healthy and in good shape for the King's Plate [at Woodbine Aug. 16],” he said. “That's what our main goal has been all year for him.”

Taken home by John Ropes for $77,000 during the 2023 Keeneland November Sale while a colt was in-utero by Charlatan, the winner's productive dam foaled a colt by Omaha Beach back in March. Tom's Magic also has a Canadian stakes-placed half-sister named Astrological (Malibu Moon), who was purchased by Mishima Stud in Japan for $475,000 at Keeneland November in 2023 while in foal with a resulting colt by Life Is Good.

TALE OF THE CAT S., $102,000, Monmouth, 6-28, 3yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:42.68, fm. 1–TOM'S MAGIC, 122, c, 3, by Justify                1st Dam: Dixie Chicken (SP, $201,004), by Rahy                2nd Dam: Minnie's Meadow, by Affirmed                3rd Dam: Stormy Bend, by Storm Bird($200,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-CJ Thoroughbreds and Mo Speed Racing; B-Sean Fitzhenry & Dorothy Fitzhenry (ON); T-Michael Stidham; J-Axel Concepcion. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-0, $172,650. *1/2 to Guy Caballero (Quality Road), SW & GSP-Can, GSP-USA, $212,319, Pleasecallmeback (Hard Spun), MSP, $238,560 and Dixie Moon (Curlin), MSW & GISP, $632,301. 2–Outrunner, 116, c, 3, American Pharoah–Gale Force, by Giant's Causeway. ($150,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Colts Neck Stables LLC; B-Dixiana Farms LLC (KY); T-Jorge Duarte, Jr. $20,000. 3–Soleil Volant, 116, g, 3, Karakontie (Jpn)–Valentine Wish, by Lemon Drop Kid. ($25,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Jacques Dupuis, Jr., Luke Bourque and Bobby Sutton; B-G. Watts Humphrey (KY); T-H. Graham Motion. $10,000.Margins: 1HF, HD, 1. Odds: 0.70, 4.90, 3.90. Also Ran: Quizler, Versus, Flash Frozen, Cool Intentions. Scratched: Golden Channel, Mythical Man, National Law, Uncatalyzed (GB).

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