Magnum shocks in San Antonio

It has been more than 32 months since Herrick Racing's MAGNUM (Arg) (El

Compinche) had visited the winner's circle, but the Darrell Vienna trainee was at

his very best in Sunday's $200,000

San Antonio H. (G2) at Santa Anita, collaring Well Armed (Tiznow) late to post the 16-1 upset. Piloted by Joel

Rosario, the gelding clocked nine panels on the Pro-Ride in 1:49 and paid

$35.80, $11.60 and $5.

Well Armed, the close 2-1 second choice, broke best and loped along on the

lead through tepid splits of :25 1/5, :49 2/5 and 1:13 4/5 for the opening six

panels. As Well Armed approached the final turn, he was still well clear and

appeared to be on his way to a rout, but Magnum had other ideas. The winner was

still two lengths behind in the lane but was just picking up momentum and it was

pretty clear late that the longshot would hit paydirt in here.

Well Armed was 2

1/4 lengths clear in second, good for $4.40 and $3.20 while completing the

$77.70 exacta ($1). Tiago (Pleasant Tap) saved ground along the rail down the

backside and finished a length clear in third as the slight 2-1 favorite.

Show paid $2.60 and the trifecta was worth $282.50 ($1). There was a dead-heat

for fourth, with Dakota Phone (Zavata) at 8-1 and Informed (Tiznow) at 9-1

finishing in unison. The $1 superfecta with Dakota Phone was good for $486.40

(4-10-8-1), while the $1 superfecta with Informed paid out $559.10 (4-10-8-11).

Marchfield (A.P. Indy), Champs Elysees (GB) (Danehill) and Racketeer (Awesome

Again) completed the order of finish. Becrux (Ity) (Glen Jordan), Ferneley (Ire) (Ishiguru) and Stream Cat (Black

Minnaloushe) were withdrawn.

Magnum bagged the 2006 Lone Star Park H. (G3) and also placed second in that

year's Santa Anita H. (G1) and Oaklawn H. (G2). The eight-year-old was gelded

prior to finishing third in San Pasqual H. (G2) last out, and that effort was a

signal that the dark bay was returning to his best form. His career line reads

26-6-3-3, $819,249.

The winner was bred in Argentina by La Quebrada and produced from the unraced

Merrymaker (Arg) (Rainbow Corner [GB]), making him a full brother to 2005

Argentina champion sprinter Medal of Honor, a half-brother to an unnamed two-year-old

colt by Dynaformer and an unnamed yearling filly by Ghostzapper. Magnum hails

from the same female line as Group 1 heroes Masterpiece (Arg) (Southern Halo)

and Manpower (Arg) (Southern Halo), as well as Group 2 star My Indy (Indygo

Shiner), who has won both Maktoum Challenge Round 1 (UAE-G3) and Round 2

(UAE-G3) at the current Dubai Carnival meeting.