Magna Five Builds Momentum

When the Magna Five, a $2 wager linking five races at four tracks, failed to reach its $500,000 guaranteed pool the first week it was offered, the skeptics were out in force.

Given how things have gone the last two weeks, the exotic wager may be here to stay. The pool has steadily increased, easily exceeding the guarantee last Saturday.

The bet, which reportedly is scheduled to continue through at least the end of the Triple Crown, features a race from Laurel, Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields and two from Gulfstream Park, including today’s anchor leg, the $100,000 Palm Beach.

A Grade III at 1 1/8 miles on the turf for 3-year-olds, the Palm Beach is headed by Kitten’s Joy, a son of El Prado.

The other races in today’s Magna Five are an optional claimer for fillies and mares from Laurel, a maiden route from Gulfstream, a starter allowance sprint at Golden Gate and an optional claimer around two turns at Santa Anita.

Race of the day: Maiden Tower, a five-time turf winner, is scheduled to make her first start of 2004 for the Darley Stable and trainer Eoin Harty in today’s $150,000 Buena Vista Handicap at one mile on the turf at Santa Anita.

One for the road: Gannett Peak stretches out for trainer Bill Mott and should relish the route in today’s 10th at Gulfstream. Mott does very well with second-time starters and horses going long for the first time, and this son of Mt. Livermore was beaten by only a head by Intimidator, who won his next start, when third in his debut.

Exotically speaking: A pick all using Sanzibar and Archness in the first, Odds On in the second, Jake Skate in the third, N Y Remembered and Award Winning Team in the fourth, Quilimanque and Third Half in the fifth, Taygete in the sixth, Ministers Wild Cat and Unfurl The Flag in the seventh, Maiden Tower in the eighth and Excessive Hayate and A Memo From Avie in the ninth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 5/127. Money: Previous day/meet total: $22.80/$690.20. Total money bet: $720.