Blue Grass Confirmed As Next for Good Magic

Good Magic | Horsephotos

By

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla–Defending 2-year-old champion Good Magic (Curlin) will make his next start in the GII Blue Grass at Keeneland, trainer Chad Brown confirmed Sunday morning. Brown had also been considering the GII Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.

“It was our feeling that he may appreciate the track at Keeneland a little better,” Brown said. “It plays a little tighter, more like the track that he saw at Del Mar [in the GI Bredeers' Cup Juvenile]. We don't have to be right about that. But it will cut down on the shipping for this horse, getting him to the state of Kentucky, if he is going to go onto the Derby as well. It was not an easy decision. The Wood was also a good choice, but more shipping would have been involved and the track has been a little bit slower this winter at Aqueduct. He might appreciate a little tighter track.”

Good Magic has run just once since winning the Juvenile, finishing third in the GII Fountain of Youth as the heavy favorite.

Brown understands that Good Magic will need to run better in the Blue Grass to re-establish himself as one of the very top contenders for the GI Kentucky Derby.

“Yes, I was a little disappointed,” he said of the Fountain of Youth. “I wasn't surprised that he was a little short. He only had six works and he missed some time with some foot issues and missed about two works because of that. He was short. But I was disappointed he didn't make more of an impact in the stretch. I was relieved to see him come back and breeze really well twice. I'm optimistic that he got a lot out of the race and I think he will take a big jump forward. But we need to see it. I've only gone down this path a few times with Derby horses, and I'm getting a good idea of what it takes. I see a big forward move. That said, I understand he's going to be facing some very good horses in the races ahead and he's going to have to be at his best.”

 

Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.

Copy Article Link

X

Never miss another story from the TDN

Click Here to sign up for a free subscription.