When Magic Lindy first entered the Johnathan McKinnon stable, the young conditioner wasn’t sure what would be expected of the trotting miss.
Magic Lindy, a sophomore daughter of Kadabra, was purchased for a mere $4,500 by McKinnon along with close friend and driver, James MacDonald, at the Summer Sizzler Mixed Sale hosted by Standardbred Canada in late August.
The lass had earnings of $14,630 from 19 starts before being entered into the sale.
Since then, the bay certainly hasn’t disappointed her new connections as she has banked $60,800 along with a 3-2-1 record from eight starts.
“She’s been a pleasant surprise,” said the 26-year-old conditioner. “She’s certainly surpassed all our expectations and she’s developed into a nice trotting filly. I can’t say enough good things about her.”
McKinnon admits that he wasn’t entirely sure that Magic Lindy would provide this type of result.
“When we got her, I originally thought she would be a good condition claiming filly at Flamboro. Then when we qualified her in 1:58, home in :27.4, and she won, passing some good horses and I thought we got something a little better,” he said with a chuckle.
The impressive qualifier was noticed by Peter Porter.
“I’ve trained a few horses for Peter in the past and he noticed the qualifying line,” said McKinnon. “We had a conversation about her on the phone and he decided to come have a look at her. He then decided to buy into her and the rest is history.”
Magic Lindy has provided many magical moments for McKinnon, MacDonald and Porter, including a recent victory in the $57,200 Ontario Graduate Series final at Georgian Downs.
“That’s the biggest win of my training career,” acknowledged the Guelph resident. “That was a great night for all of us. ‘Lindy’s’ been very consistent, continues to race well and is just an all-around nice filly.”
Not bad for a $4,500 purchase.
“I wasn’t at the sale, but James was,” said McKinnon. “James talked to Riina (Rekila – previous trainer and owner) about her and Riina said that she had too many horses, that’s why she was in the sale. James took a look at ‘Lindy’ and liked what he had seen and was within the price range.”
After a third place finish in the Autumn Stakes elimination last week, Magic Lindy could provide the largest payday of her career this Thursday in the $60,000 final at Woodbine.
“We have to deal with post nine, but she can get off the gate well enough,” he said. “It will be interesting to see how the race plays out, but we’re just happy to be in it.”
In her career, Magic Lindy has lifetime earnings of $75,430 with a 4-4-2 record from 27 career starts.
This division of the Autumn Stakes is for Ontario-sired three-year-old filly trotters, who are non-winners of $50,000 lifetime or $30,000 in 2012 as of October 31.
To view entries for Thursday night's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Entries - Woodbine Racetrack.
(WEG)