Stellar Magic takes San Mateo Mile

K and K Stables and Brian Pitnick's STELLAR MAGIC (Western Fame) upset 3-5

favorite Texcess (In Excess [Ire]) in Saturday's $100,000

San Mateo Mile S. at

Bay Meadows after closing to score by 1 1/2 lengths. Stellar Magic broke well

under Dennis Carr before drifting back to rate through fractions of :22

3/5, :45 2/5 and 1:09 3/5 as Texcess and California Choice (High Yield) battled

for the lead. Trained by Pitnick, the bay gelding swung to the outside as the pack left the

second turn and entered the stretch three wide, rallying for the victory and

stopping the clock in 1:35 2/5 for the fast track event.

Stellar Magic left the gate at 8-1 to pay $18, $5.20 and $4.20, keying $1

exotics of $15.90 (exacta) and $182.80 (trifecta). Texcess gave $2.40 and $2.20

for second while King Mobay (King of the Hunt) crossed the line nine lengths

farther back in third to return $5.60 at 39-1. Chips are Down (Distorted Humor),

Talking to John (Souvenir Copy), Sharp Writer (Capote) and California Choice

rounded out the order of finish.

Stellar Magic broke his maiden first out before finishing a disappointing

seventh in his first test of the stakes waters. He followed that up with a

four-length win against allowance company prior to Saturday's victory.

Stellar Magic now boasts a record of 4-3-0-0 with earnings of $95,398. He was

bred by Applebite Farms in California and is out of Lucky Starlett (Something

Lucky), making him full brother to an unnamed yearling filly. Stellar Magic was

purchased for $17,000 as a Barrettes May two-year-old.