The trotting warhorse Il Mago has taken an immediate liking to his new surroundings in the Midwest.

The seven-year-old son of Kadabra, purchased for $30,000 by CC Racing LLC of Illinois out of the Meadowlands Select Sale auction in January, captured the $20,000 Open Trot at Miami Valley on Sunday afternoon (March 6) for his third win in four tries for his new owners.

Trace Tetrick guided Il Mago to the 1:55 tally over Martz Time (John DeLong) and Tag Up And Go (Jeff Nisonger). Tetrick switched tactics and raced Il Mago from behind Sunday following the only blemish on his Midwest report card, when he got stung to a :26.3 first quarter in his first foray into Open company last week and faded to fourth in the stretch. After getting away fifth, the odds-on favourite was afforded a second-over trip during the middle half-mile, then collared the pacesetters at the top of the stretch before holding off fellow closer Martz Time at the finish. It was his 27th career victory and increased his lifetime earnings to $589,096.

“He has one big leg [an old tendon injury], but seems sound as a dollar and is a really classy campaigner,” said new trainer Tyler George, who stables at a private training center in central Indiana. “My owner was willing to go to $40,000 to get him at auction, so they were thrilled when the bidding stopped at $30,000. CC Racing wanted to come home from the sale with a nice trotter and a nice pacing mare, and that’s exactly what they did.”

(Miami Valley Raceway)