Frisky Magician saved all the ground on the far turn and found a narrow opening on the rail to get up in time to take Sunday’s $41,000 allowance optional claiming feature by a neck at Monmouth Park.

          Trained by Jane Cibelli, Frisky Magician covered the five and a half furlongs on the firm turf course in 1:03.56 and paid $9, $5.20 and $3.60. Schoolofhardrocks closed gamely in the stretch to complete the $51 exacta and paid $6.40 and $4.40. It was another length and a quarter back to Call Wil, who paid $5.40 in the show mutuel.

          “I didn’t want to go four or five wide so I tried to save all the ground because I knew he had a good late kick,” said winning jockey Antonio Gallardo. “There wasn’t much room at all on the rail, but my horse has a big heart and continued through to the end.”

          The 5-year-old gelding by Street Magician out of the Posse mare Feelin Abit Frisky improves his record to 4-3-3 in 21 career starts, good for earning just shy of $180,000.

          Live racing continues at Monmouth Park on Friday, August 25 – gates open 11:30 a.m., first post 12:50 p.m.  As always, the racetrack is open seven days a week for simulcasting from across the country and around the globe.