Stonestreet Stables and e Five Racing's champion Good Magic (Curlin), runner-up in the GI Kentucky Derby May 5, has been confirmed for a start in the GI Preakness S. next Saturday, trainer Chad Brown said Sunday.
“The horse has just been training very well since the Derby,” Brown said. “He bounced out of the race in great condition and I think he deserves a chance in the race. He's doing great.”
While Brown–like most trainers–does not typically run horses back on two weeks rest, he said the race is tough to pass on give the colt's current fitness.
“I think it's a great opportunity for the horse,” he said. “I really don't have anything else planned for him before, say, either the GI Haskell Invitational or the GII Jim Dandy S. anyway. That said, I wouldn't do it just because he's going to get a bit of a freshening. He has to be doing well, and he's doing exceptionally well. He's doing far better than I expected exiting the Derby. It's remarkable to see how well the horse is moving and his energy level. He already has his weight back. He just looks great. I'm excited about it.”
In order to find the winner's circle Saturday, Good Magic will need to turn the tables on Derby hero Justify (Scat Daddy), who remained unbeaten with a 2 1/2-length score in the slop beneath the Twin Spires. Justify made a visit to the starting gate and had a routine gallop Sunday morning at Churchill Downs as the Kentucky Derby winner prepares for Saturday's Preakness.
“He stood in the gate, we jogged down the stretch a little ways and then galloped a mile and a half,” said Jimmy Barnes, assistant to trainer Bob Baffert.
In other Preakness news:
• Cash is King, LC Racing and D.J. Stable's Diamond King (Quality Road) turned in his final work with a five-furlong breeze Sunday morning at Parx Racing. Frankie Pennington was aboard as the colt wad clocked in 1:01.50 over a sloppy main track in company with 4-year-old gelding Colonel Juan (Colonel John). Diamond King galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.53.
“Everything went super, very good. It was exactly what I was looking for,” trainer John Servis said. “I told him I was looking for around 1:01 and then let him gallop out on his own…so it was right on the money.”
• WinStar Farm, China Horse Club International and SF Racing's GII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby winner Quip (Distorted Humor), based at Keeneland with trainer Rodolphe Brisset, worked 4 furlongs in :48.20 Sunday at Keeneland.
Keeneland's clocker caught Quip's final quarter in :23.80 with a five-furlong gallop out in 1:00.60.
“It was a usual maintenance work for him,” said Brisset, who was aboard Quip in the work, while the Distorted Humor colt was being bathed. “He went off easy and came home nicely, galloped out strong.”
• Back in Louisville, Bravazo (Awesome Again) worked four furlongs in :50.60 in a maintenance breeze for Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas.
• GMB Racing's Lone Sailor (Majestic Warrior), eighth in the Kentucky Derby for trainer Tom Amoss, has been confirmed for a start in the Preakness. Irad Ortiz, Jr. will have the mount.
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