Magnificat edges clear for first stakes win in Thursday’s Desert Stormer Stakes for fillies and mares going 6 furlongs at Santa Anita

MAGNIFICAT EDGES CLEAR FOR FIRST STAKES WIN IN THURSDAY’S DESERT STORMER STAKES FOR FILLIES AND MARES GOING 6 FURLONGS AT SANTA ANITA

The 4-year-old filly by Omaha Beach is trained by Richard Mandella for owner-breeder Spendthrift Farm

ARCADIA, CA (June 11, 2026)—After winning a second-level allowance on turf at Santa Anita last time out, Magnificat returned to the main track Thursday and promptly earned her first stakes victory in the $100,000 Desert Stormer Stakes for fillies and mares going six furlongs at Santa Anita.

Sent off the heavy 2-to-5 favorite, Magnificat with Antonio Fresu aboard prevailed by three-quarters of a length over stubborn longshot Syntax (18-1). It was another five lengths back to Revera (2-1) in third.

Magnificat is trained by Richard Mandella for owner-breeder Spendthrift Farm. She outdueled Revera for the early lead and set fractions of 22.72 and 45.36 seconds for the opening half mile. Syntax, ridden by Joel Rosario for trainer Librado Barocio, took up a tracking position on the outside of Magnificat. At the top of the stretch, Syntax ranged up to near even terms with Magnificat but was unable to keep up in the final furlong.

Syntax was making her stakes debut in the Desert Stormer. She previously won a $16,000 starter allowance win going one mile on turf on May 24 at Santa Anita.

“I was looking at that gray filly (Syntax) in the paddock,” Mandella said. “She doesn’t have that much form, but she looked awfully good. Our filly ran nice. We’re proud of her.“

Magnificat won in a time of 1:08.95. She is a 4-year-old filly by Omaha Beach out of multiple graded stakes winner Holy Helena. In her previous allowance win sprinting on turf, Fresu was aboard Magnificat for the first time.

“I think today was her best surface,” Fresu said. “Last time she won on the grass because she has a lot of talent. But I thought she was very uncomfortable that day, probably the ground was a little bit too hard for her. But today, she was feeling a lot better on the dirt. She broke well and I took the chance to go and grab the lead. She was always comfortable there. Once the five horse (Syntax) was coming on the outside, she was always responding. I thought she won pretty easy.”

Magnificat improved to 7: 4-1-1 with nearly $200,000 in earnings. Her only previous stakes try came in January in the GIII Las Flores, also at six furlongs on dirt. She ran evenly that day and finished fifth.

With the scratch of morning line favorite Nooni, there was no show wagering. Magnificat paid $2.80 and $2.20. Syntax returned $5.20.

$100,000 DESERT STORMER STAKES QUOTES

JOCKEY QUOTES

ANTONIO FRESU, MAGNIFICAT, WINNER:“I think today was the best surface. Last time she won on the grass because she has a lot of talent, but I thought she was very uncomfortable that day, probably the ground was a little bit too hard for her. But today, she was feeling a lot better going on the dirt. She broke well and I took the chance to go and grab the lead. She was always comfortable there. Once the five horse (Syntax) was coming on the outside, she was always responding. I thought she won pretty easy.”

TRAINER QUOTES

RICHARD MANDELLA, MAGNIFICAT, WINNER: “I was looking at that gray filly (Syntax) in the paddock. She doesn’t have that much form, but she looked awfully good. Our filly ran nice. We’re proud of her. She looks like all the Omaha Beach’s. Very good looking.”

NOTES: The winning owner/breeder is Spendthrift Farm, LLC.