Tom's Magic Appears At Top Of King's Plate List

There is a new name at the top of Canadian Thorougbred‘s 166th King’s Plate contenders list for 2025, and it’s TOM’S MAGIC.

The striking chestnut-coloured colt scored an impressive win in the $100,000 Black Gold Stakes at Fair Grounds on March 1 to jump from fifth on the top contenders list to first place. It was the second consecutive win for the son of American Triple Crown winner Justify out of the mare Dixie Chicken, by Rahy.

Tom’s Magic was bred by Sean and Dorothy Fitzhenry in Ontario and purchased by CJ Thoroughbreds for $200,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling sale. CJ Thoroughbreds share ownership of the three-year-old colt with Mo Speed Racing, owned by Scott Mawaka.

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Tom’s Magic, who is trained by Michael Stidham, won his maiden second time out on the grass at Fair Grounds on Dec. 22. The Black Gold, at 1 1/16 miles on turf, was his first stakes stake. Under rider Jeiron Barbosa, Tom’s Magic tracked the pace from third early in the race, was behind rivals late on the final turn before moving to the inside for a victory move.

Tom’s Magic won by two lengths in 1:45.73 for an 81 Beyer Speed Figure.

“He is really handy and kind of a raw talent,” Stidham said. “We’ve seen it right from the beginning. He was kind of green when he broke his maiden here and we gave him time. It paid off. He’s coming around and could be a nice horse. Being an Ontario-bred, he might have a little date at Woodbine this summer.”

Tom’s Magic is a half-brother to Woodbine Oaks winner DIXIE MOON (Curlin) and Plate Trial Stakes winner GUY CABALLARO. Dixie Chicken, bred in Kentucky by the Fitzhenrys, was sold in 2023 to John Ropses for $77,000. She had a Charlatan foal last year.

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In other late news, ASHLEY’S ARCHER made his three-year-old debut in a seven furlong allowance event on dirt at Tampa Bay Downs on Mar. 2. The son of Karakontie (Jpn), who was disqualified from first in the Cup and Saucer Stakes on grass last fall at Woodbine, was even money in the small field, but his stablemate Art Fair dominated on the pace and won by five lengths in a quick 1:22.71. Ashley’s Archer, owned by Gary Barber and Archer Racing, was a clear second.

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In New York, SCORCHING, who had been training for a couple of months at Belmont for a start in the Gotham Stakes (G3) on March 1, had to be scratched due to a temperature. Scorching, who was placed first in the Cup and Saucer, could target the Jeff Ruby Steaks on Tapeta at Turfway Park.

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Coronation Futurity winner NOTORIOUS GANGSTER is at Turfway Park with trainer Josie Carroll preparing for his three-year-old debut.

166th KING’S PLATE – Early contenders

1. Tom’s Magic – Trained by Mike Stidham, won Fair Grounds stakes race
2. Notorious Gangster – Trained by Josie Carroll, won Coronation Futurity
3. Scorching – Trained by John Charalambous, won Cup and Saucer
4. Ashley’s Archer – Trained by Mark Casse, second in Tampa Bay allowance in ’25 debut
5. Dewolf – Trained by Kevin Attard, stakes winner at 2, 2nd Coronation
6. Shifty (f) – Trained by Mark Casse, graded stakes placed at Woodbine
7. Ready for Candy (f) – recently sold to US interests, stakes placed maiden
8. Aristella (f) – Trained by Rachel Halden, stakes winner at 2
9. Mount Doom – Trained by Steve Henson, won 4 of 5 at Hastings
10. War Signal (f) – Trained by Mark Casse, allowance winner at Gulfstream in Jan

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