Charmed Victory surged to a six-length win against allowance foes at Laurel Park. Photo by The Racing Biz.
From a Maryland Jockey Club release
Hillwood Stable LLC and Richard Golden’s Charmed Victory is slated to seek his third victory without defeat in Monday’s $75,000 Miracle Wood Stakes, a one-mile stakes for 3-year-olds at Laurel Park.
The 3-year-old son of Flatter and American Victory overcame trouble to capture his six-furlong debut at Laurel Dec. 19, closing from seventh with a late-rush to prevail by a length. Stretching out to a mile for his second start, the Rodney Jenkins-trained ridgling rated off the early pace before drawing off to a commanding six-length triumph.
His maiden score earned him The Racing Biz Big Move of the Week honors.
The Maryland-bred, who is one of five Triple Crown nominees in Monday’s six-horse field, was purchased by Ellen Charles’ Hillwood Stable at the 2014 Timonium September sale for $260,000.
“Mrs. Charles bought him at Timonium from Richard Golden. He bought a 1/4 of him back, so they own him together,” Jenkins said. “I was very high on him. He was a ridgling when we bought him and it bothered him a little bit and that’s the reason he didn’t run earlier than he did. We took the testicle out and that’s been history since. He’s turned around, trains beautiful. He’s a nice horse and he’s a good looking horse too.”
Victor Carrasco will have the return mount aboard Charmed Victory, whom Jenkins believes will relish longer distances.
“American Victory was best at a mile and an eighth and the sire Flatter, you can get any kind of horse with him,” Jenkins said.
Jenkins has no firm plans for Charmed Victory beyond his stakes debut in the Miracle Wood.
“If he runs well there, then we’ll make a plan for him,” he said.
Charmed Victory is scheduled to clash with multiple-stakes winner Never Gone South. M M G Stables’ 3-year-old son of Munnings captured the seven-furlong Frank Whitely Stakes at Laurel by 7 ½ lengths after finishing close seconds in the Marylander and James F. Lewis III Stakes.
