FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                       
   JANUARY 10, 2009

CONTACT LOS ALAMITOS PUBLICITY
714-820-2690

MAGIC ACT RESULTS IN CYPRESS VICTORY

LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE, CYPRESS, CA... It didn't take long
for EG High Desert Farms' Magic Show Czech to disappear from
the sights of his rivals in the $25,000 Cypress Handicap, as
the classy runner flew to the lead from post three to score
an impressive victory Saturday at Los Alamitos. Making his
first start for AQHA Champion Trainer Paul Jones, Magic Show
Czech crossed the finish line 3/4 lengths ahead of Hawk In
The City, who would eventually be disqualified from second
and placed sixth due to interference. The stewards' decision
elevated the Jones-trainee Bannow Bay to runner-up status
with Ed Allred's Freaky moving up to third.
     The story of the night was the classy Magic Show Czech,
as the 2007 Governor's Cup Futurity winner dominated the
Cypress at 350 yards in a time of :17.47. The 4-year-old
gelding by Corona Czech earned  $13,750 to push his career
bankroll to $571,469. In addition to his victory in the
Governor's Cup Futurity, he also ran third to One Famous
Eagle in the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity and fifth to
champion Carters Cartel in the Ed Burke Million Futurity
during his freshman year. Magic Show Czech qualified to three
Grade 1 derby finals last year, including a runner-up effort
in the Los Alamitos Winter Derby. He also ran in the Golden
State Derby and Los Alamitos Super Derby. Magic Show Czech
moved to Jones' barn following the Super Derby in November. 
      Jones, who is currently enjoying a well-deserved
vacation, left his assistant trainer Roque Gonzalez with the
duty of saddling Magic Show Czech in the Cypress Handicap.
Gonzalez has served as Jones' assistant trainer for the past
eight years. A native of Colima, Mexico, Gonzalez was more
accustomed to working with cows than horses growing up. "We
had some riding horses but I worked more with cows. I started
working with horses at Fairplex Park in Pomona before I came
to Los Alamitos to work for Blane Schvaneveldt. I worked for
Blane for about eight months and then I went to work for Paul
in 1994."
      When asked, Gonzalez had a tough time naming his
favorite moment working with Quarter Horses. "It's tough
because every day that I am working with horses is a special
day. Winning big races brings you a lot of happiness but I'm
always happy when I'm around horses. It's great to work for
Paul because he is truly a great person. He treats everyone
well and with a lot of respect."
     And what is it like to be in charge of Jones' barn when
the trainer is out of town? "It's a team effort," Gonzalez
said. "Every one in the barn knows their job and we all get a
long great. With a horse like Magic Show Czech, it's easy
because he is all class. He knows exactly what he has to do
and that makes it easy. He ran a nice race tonight and he has
been training well."
     Magic Show Czech is expected to make his next start in
the trials to the Los Alamitos Winter Championship on January
31. He is one of 45 talented older horses currently eligible
to compete in the 400-yard trials. Champion of Champions
winner Jess You And I, champion Jess You And I, Grade 1
winners Strength In Numbers, Separate Bet and Value The Man
plus Decati, Look Her Over and Materialist are just some of
the top names also eligible to run in the trials.  
      J. Garvan Kelly and Nancy Yearsley's Bannow Bay, who
has also been paid to the Winter Championship trials, earned
$5,625 for running second in the Cypress Handicap. The
Oklahoma-bred gelding by Tres Seis was making only second
start at Los Alamitos since running fourth in the El Primero
Del Ano Derby in April. Multiple Grade 1 finalist Freaky
earned $3,125 for his third place finish. Firstdown Just Gil,
JP Rhythm, Hawk In The City and Napa Valley Girl completed
the field.

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