A trio of Virginia-bred horses — Simmstown, Star of Magic and Callipella — reached the winners circle on a mild Saturday (February 20) in the Mid-Atlantic region. Star of Magic and Simmstown, respective 7 and 8 year old geldings with a combined 75 starts between them, both captured six furlong sprint races in very different fashion.
7-year-old Star of Magic scores a gate to wire victory February 20th at Penn National in his 48th lifetime start. Photo courtesy of B & D Photography.
The former, bred by the Braeburn Farm Corporation, went gate-to-wire with jockey Chris Torres in the irons while the latter, an Audley Farm product, came from fifth at the half to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Star of Magic, who was making his 48th career start, showed speed from the outset, drew clear from the outside midway through the backstretch, took a 1 1/2 length lead into the top of the stretch and crossed in 1:10.62. The heavy betting choice, who is by Medalist, out of Rumbling Girl by Thunder Rumble paid $3.60. The Mario Serey, Jr. trainee was making his 48th start and earned his 8th victory.
Simmstown, an 8-year-old Limehouse gelding, earns a 1 1/2 length triumph February 20th in a $19,000 claiming race at Penn National. Photo courtesy of B & D Photography.
Simmstown, by Limehouse, out of Ruler’s Charm by Cape Town, captured his $19,000 race by 1 1/2 lengths over fast closing Megalith in 1:10.86. Trainer Mark Salvaggio’s charge faced a field of nine others and got away slowly. Sent off at 10-1, Simmstown was locked in early — seventh at the quarter and fifth at the half — before finally finding daylight in the stretch. Rider Andrew Wolfsont directed the gelding in his 27th start, and he’s now won two of his three most recent races, all at Penn National.
Callipella scored a tight one-half length win the same evening in a seven furlong, $24,000 allowance race for fillies and mares at Charles Town. The 4 year old daughter of Yes It’s True faced eight challengers, settled off the early pace three wide and remained in that spot through the turn. She edged clear in the upper stretch and held off fast charging Madeitouttaharlan in 1:28.38. The winner was bred by Morgan’s Ford Farm, is trained by Ollie Figgins, III., and is out of the Kafwain mare, Desert Quail.