Magic on Tap cuts back to win Triple Bend S. (G2)

Magic on Tap returned to sprinting in Saturday’s $200,000 Triple Bend S. (G2) for the first time since his debut and came away with a two-length victory in the seven furlong contest.

The victory was the first stakes win for the 5-year-old and a record seventh in the Triple Bend for Bob Baffert, who took last year’s renewal with McKinzie. 

Owned and bred by Summer Wind Equine,  Magic on Tap’s only prior graded stakes start was in the 1 1/8-mile Californian S. (G2) in April. 

When stablemate Eight Rings, who had been off for nine months, and Lambeau engaged in an early speed duel, Magic On Tap set a couple lengths behind the hot pace of :22.10 and :45.03. Coming to the quarter-pole, Magic on Tap made a three-wide move for the lead and took command rather easily. In the stretch, he widened his margin to win comfortably ahead of Shooters Shoot. Eight Rings ended up fourth.

“I was afraid of a speed duel, where we would wear each other out,” Baffert said of his entrymates. “Eight Rings was coming off a long layoff, so with fractions like that, it was crazy. I was looking for an allowance race for (Magic on Tap) and then I decided to throw him into the stakes race. He is bred to be a good one. It was good to get a stakes win for him after he disappointed in the Californian. He is still a little green, but he has been working really well.”

Magic on Tap is a son of leading sire Tapit out of the Street Sense mare Aubby K, who won the Humana Distaff S. (G1) and Inside Information S. (G2). With the win, Magic on Tap is 3-2-0 in six starts and has earned $228,800.