Magnificience returns a winner, but barely

Magnificience (left) had her nose in front when it counted (Benoit Photo)

Last spring, trainer Bruce Headley et al's MAGNIFICIENCE (Stormy Atlantic)

took Santa Anita by storm with a pair of dominating victories, romping by 6 1/2

lengths in her career debut and by five lengths in the Santa Paula S. (G3),

before being sidelined by injury. On Sunday, the chestnut made her long-awaited

return to action in the

3RD

race at Hollywood Park, an allowance that drew a short field of five. Although she had to work harder than expected as

the 2-5 favorite, she got up in time to remain perfect from three starts.

Magnificience was away from the gate a bit slowly in her first outing in more

than 13 months, but she smoothly recovered and took up a tracking position

beneath David Flores. The early leader was her stablemate Little Boss Chick

(Arch), the longest shot on the board at 25-1, who showed the way through splits

of :23 1/5 and :46 1/5.

Magnificience was forced to dig deep for the first time (Benoit Photo)

Under a more urgent Flores, Magnificience steadily began to narrow the gap,

and she just caught her stablemate by a nose at the wire. The four-year-old

finished 6 1/2 furlongs on the Cushion Track in 1:15 2/5, returning $2.80, $2.40

and $2.10 to her relieved supporters. The all-Headley exacta totaled $13.90

($1). Little Boss Chick was 3 1/4 lengths clear of third-placer Renagade Ruby (El Corredor).

Magnificience has now earned $121,590. Bred in Kentucky by Mike Akers, Randy

Zeller, Theresa Levy and Jeff Bowen, the flashy filly was purchased by Headley

for $120,000 at the 2005 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. She is out of the

stakes-winning Fappiano mare Fashion Delight, and she has a 2008 full sister. Magnificience's second dam is 1984 Frizette S. (G1) queen, Charleston Rag (Ire)

(General Assembly). This is the family of Casual Look (Red Ransom), heroine of

the 2003 Epsom Oaks (Eng-G1), and Italian classic winner and highweight Fashion

Statement (Rainbow Quest).