Life's Magic | Horse Profile

Horse > Life's Magic

Life's Magic

Life’s Magic was bred in Kentucky and trained by Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

In 1983 at age 2, Life’s Magic made seven starts and won once, the Grade 1 Oak Leaf Stakes. She finished 2^nd four times that year all in Grade 1 events.

At age 3, Life’s Magic won three Grade 1 races, the other Goose, Monmouth Oaks and Beldame Stakes while also capturing the Grade II Alabama Stakes. In her Breeders’ Cup debut, she finished 2^nd in the 1984 Breeders’ Cup Distaff, and was then named American Champion 3-Year-Old Filly.

A second championship season followed in 1985, as Life’s Magic won the Shuvee Handicap before winning the most important race of her career under jockey Angel Cordero, Jr.: the 1985 Breeders’ Cup Distaff. In the Distaff, the nation’s leading trainer D. Wayne Lukas had three of the seven horses in the race including the great front-running speedster Lady’s Secret and Life’s Magic. The galloping gray Lady’s Secret set the pace, and Life’s Magic was the trailer more than 8 lengths behind on the backstretch. She moved up and around the far turn Life’s Magic was alongside Lady’s Secret as they made their stretch run. At the quarter pole Life’s Magic pulled away and stretched out to a dominating 6-length victory. Her 1985 performance earned Life’s Magic American Champion Older Female Horse honors.  

Life’s Magic placed in 20 Grade 1 stakes, winning five, and was on the board in 25 of 32 lifetime starts. She earned $2,225,218 in her career.

Life’s Magic was originally purchased at the 1982 Keeneland fall yearling sale for $310,000.  She produced 14 foals and seven winners as a broodmare.  

Life’s Magic died peacefully at Trackside Farm in Versailles, Kentucky Aug. 21, 2007. She was 26 years old.