Majestic Eagle rallied in the final furlong to capture the G3 American Stakes by a neck at Santa Anita 23 June.
The victory marked the first Graded Stakes win for the four-year-old Medaglia d’Oro colt, who has now earned over $200,000 in his career.
Breaking alertly in the field of six, Majestic Eagle was settled near the rear of the field early, as jockey Rafael Bejarano was content to stalk the leader, Snazzy Dresser, through the early stages of the eight-furlong contest.
Majestic Eagle began to edge closer to the leaders on the far turn. As the field entered the homestretch, Majestic Eagle continued to gain on the leaders while racing in the clear down the center of the course. The bay colt got up in the shadow of the wire to win by a neck over Law Abidin Citizen and Sharp Samurai in a blanket finish.
Majestic Eagle was bred in Kentucky by B. Flay Thoroughbreds. He is out of Double Tapped, a full sister to Champion Untappable and a half to G1 winner, Paddy O’Prado.
Medaglia d'Oro is the sire of 31 Stakes performers in 2019 - eight Group or Graded winners - including G1 winner Elate, recent winner of the G2 Fleur de Lis Stakes at Churchill Downs, and G1 Rosehill Guineas winner Crown Prosecutor. With the 2019 sales season soon to get underway, it should be noted that Medaglia d'Oro was the sire of eight million-dollar yearlings last year. Watch for his first select yearlings selling at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga in August.
