Magical Maya A made her North American debut a winning one on Monday afternoon (Nov. 27) when she scored in the $15,000 Fillies & Mares Open Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
Larry Stalbaum owns, trains and drives the five-year-old Aussie invader, who used two winning qualifiers as preps for her local debut in Monday’s feature.
Stalbaum settled in early with the Bettors Delight mare, who was the public’s 4-5 betting favourite in her first Spa try, before completing a quarter-move in an opening panel paced in 29 seconds. Our Lady Lara A (Brett Beckwith) was on the lead when she was bypassed by the favourite, who cruised unopposed through a half in :58.2 and three-quarters in 1:26.4. With out-of-towner Laurie Lee (Jimmy Devaux) in the midst of a late rally from off the pace and Our Lady Lara A lurking in the pocket, Magical Maya A was asked to crank up the speed around the final turn and her response was instant. The favourite reported home a length and a half winner in a mile clocked in 1:56.1 on a chilly late-November day in Saratoga Springs. Our Lady Lara A was the runner-up in the ladies’ feature while Laurie Lee finished third.
Magical Maya A paid $3.80 to win. The exacta in the five-horse Open paid $13.20 while the triple returned $27.
Magical Maya A earned her ninth career win.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)