LOS ALAMITOS : Magna Terra Smoky Is Horse of Year

Last Friday night, the Arabian Racing Assn. of California honored Magna Terra Smoky as the 1994 horse of the year. On Saturday night, Magna Terra Smoky proved the title was well deserved, winning the $30,000 ARAC Director’s Sprint at Los Alamitos.

Running off the pace set by early leaders TC Tomboy and King Shawn, Magna Terra Smoky waited until halfway through the 4 1/2-furlong race to make his move under jockey Jerry Lambert and won by half a length. The victory was another in a series of stakes triumphs for the gray gelding, whose 40 victories make him the winningest Arabian of all time.

“Experience was on our side tonight,” Lambert said. “(Magna Terra Smoky) will do whatever he has to do to win a race and he showed tonight why he will go down as an all-time great Arabian.”

Magna Terra Smoky can be compared to the great thoroughbred John Henry, or the talented quarter horse Refrigerator. The 9-year-old gelding is the leading Arabian money winner with $243,278 to his credit.

He was named the 1990 Darley 4-year-old colt and 1991 Darley older horse, the equivalent of winning an Eclipse Award or being named quarter horse champion, and has won numerous California titles.

What sets Magna Terra Smoky apart is that he has compiled his brilliant record with only one eye.

Barbara Jagoda, who was honored as 1994 trainer of the year, owns Magna Terra Smoky. She acquired the gelding early in his racing career and is responsible for his success and dramatic recovery from what could have been a career-ending problem.

In 1992, Magna Terra Smoky underwent surgery to remove his right eye after it had been invaded by a fungus. The handicap would have ended most racing careers but Jagoda believed in her gelding, and taught him how to function with limited vision. A month after the surgery, Magna Terra Smoky was back in the winner’s circle.

“Once he developed confidence in me, we really developed a bond,” Jagoda said. “That’s all he really needed was someone to have confidence in.”

Magna Terra Smoky, who was nominated for another Darley award in 1994, has won 10 stakes races at Los Alamitos, and more at other tracks.

“Every time he wins a race he amazes me,” Jagoda said. “He never quits. That’s the mark of a truly special horse.”

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Los Alamitos Notes

California horses fared well in the 1994 Darley awards, which were announced last Saturday night. Among the winners: FMR Hadassah, older mare and horse of the year; TC Tomtyr, older horse; Seeking Ah, 4-year-old colt; Wikings Dream, 4-year-old filly; CR Angel Kate, 3-year-old filly; Patriot Missile, 3-year-old colt; Lynn Ashby, trainer of the year; and Richard Pfau, jockey of the year. . . . Trials for the El Primero Del Ano Derby and La Primera Del Ano Derby lead the action this weekend at Los Alamitos, with Champion Ah Sigh expected to make her first start of the year Saturday night and stakes winners Meter Me Gone and Dash Of Cider expected to run Friday night.