Magical Fantasy punches ticket to Breeders' Cup

Magical Fantasy is headed to the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf on Nov. 6 on a four-race winning streak after winning Saturday's $300,000 Grade 1 Yellow Ribbon Stakes at Santa Anita.

The 4-year-old daughter of Diesis won the Yellow Ribbon by a half-length over Visit, with Black Mamba another nose back in third in the 1 1/4-mile turf race. The second- and third-place finishers are likely to come back in the Breeders' Cup for another crack at Magical Fantasy, who went postward as the 6-5 favorite and won for the fifth time in 11 tries on the grass and for the sixth time in 17 starts overall. She went over $1 million in earnings with the victory, hiking her career bankroll to $1,039,231.

Winning trainer Paddy Gallagher has done a great job with the filly, and jockey Alex Solis suits her to a tee. They're going to be tough to beat on their home course in the Breeders' Cup, although it's always tough for a come-from-behinder to navigate and make up ground in a large field like the Filly and Mare Turf figures to be.

"That's the number one hope, to stay here and train up to the Breeders' Cup," Gallagher said.

The winning time was a solid 1:59.59 after Magical Fantasy chased pacesetter Charming Legacy's splits of 24.02, 47.58 and 11:11.98. The winner has now won three consecutive Grade 1 races, following up victories in the Gamely Stakes at Hollywood Park and the John Mabee Stakes at Del Mar. She started the four-race win streak with a victory in the Grade 2 Santa Barbara Handicap at Santa Anita on April 18.