Magic Apollitical (#7), under jockey Francisco Giles, holds off Sunday Sylence (#1) by a nose to capture her first career stakes victory in Sunday’s $35,000 Gillespie County Fair Oaks Stakes at Gillespie County Fairgrounds.

© Cypress Girl Photography

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

FREDERICKSBURG, TX–AUGUST 24, 2025–Magic Apollitical earned the first stakes win of her career after a photo finish victory in the $35,000 Gillespie County Fair Oaks Stakes on Sunday afternoon at Gillespie County Fairgrounds. 

The 3-year-old daughter of Apollitical Jess stopped the clock in 16.560 seconds for 330 yards, posting a 112 speed index under jockey Francisco Giles. She earned $21,000 for the nose victory, boosting her bankroll to $133,492 from 11 career starts that include three wins, four seconds, and two thirds.

Owned by AA Farms, LLC and trained by Miguel Castillo, Magic Apollitical was bred in Texas by Turner Farms out of the Corona Cartel mare Visual Magic. A $95,000 repurchase at the 2023 TQHA Yearling Sale, she had previously finished second in the Sam Houston Juvenile Stakes and third in the TQHA Sale Futurity-RG1 during her freshman campaign.

Sunday Sylence, a 5-year-old mare by Ivory James, finished a game second by a half-length after rallying late under jockey Victor Urieta, Jr. She is conditioned by Heber Deyta-Melendez for owner Marisol Alvarado. Bred in Louisiana by Bobby D. Cox, she is out of Featuring Jessie, by Feature Mr Jess, and was a $13,000 purchase at the 2021 Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale.

From 17 career starts, Sunday Sylence has recorded five wins, four seconds, and three thirds with $198,455 in earnings. Earlier this year, she finished fifth in the Eastex Stakes-G2 and has career highlights that include a third-place effort in the Oklahoma Futurity-G2, as well as appearances in the finals of the Heritage Place Futurity-G1 and Heritage Place Oaks.

Trademarque, a 6-year-old mare by Duponte, broke sharply and led early before settling for third, a length and a half behind the runner-up. Mario Delgado rode for owner Rafael Haros and trainer Juvenal Licona-Vazquez. Bred in Oklahoma by Bobby D. Cox, she is also out of Featuring Jessie, by Feature Mr Jess, and was purchased for $7,700 at the 2020 Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale.

Trademarque has made 34 career starts, compiling six wins, nine seconds, and five thirds with $144,086 earned. She added to her black type resume earlier this season with a third-place finish in the Mighty Deck Three Stakes-G2.

Following the top three, the order of finish was Dezigner Jeanz fourth, Shez Flyn fifth, Rj Good Woman Blues sixth, Ima Fancy Keeper seventh, Hogans Hero eighth, Favorite Mvp Z ninth, and Trixiee did not finish after stumbling badly at the break.

Editor's note: A photo of this race will be posted with this story when it becomes available from the track photographer.
 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.