Magee Clinches Training Title at Pimlico

With two days remaining in the Preakness (gr. I) meet at Pimlico Race Course, trainer Kieron Magee clinched his second consecutive Maryland training title when Mothernaturespell won the fourth race at the Baltimore racetrack June 24.

             

The training leader during the preceding winter-spring meet at Laurel Park, Magee is first with 14 wins at the current stand, which wraps up June 26. The only trainer in position to catch Magee, Jamie Ness, has 11 winners but no starters June 25 or June 26.

"This is home. I love Laurel, but this is home for me, so this means a little more," Magee said. "I galloped horses here for 25 years and live 20 minutes from here. It's home."              

Magee was second to Ness at last year's Pimlico meet after capturing the 2014 title with 18 wins. He has been Maryland's leading trainer for the past two years.              

Favored at 3-2 in a field of seven fillies and mares, 4-year-old Mothernaturespell ($5) is co-owned by Ralph Gales Jr. and Magee. Disqualified from first June 2 at Pimlico, the daugther of Spellbinderhas four wins from 17 lifetime starts.              

"I've got some good owners and they're not scared to put their horses in the right spots," Magee said. "A lot of my owners are claiming owners and that helps. When those races come up, I usually have one in there, and that helps tremendously."