Good Magic

GOOD MAGIC (c, Curlin">CurlinGlinda the Good, by Hard Spun)
O-e Five Thoroughbreds & Stonestreet Stables. B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings (KY). T-Chad Brown. Sales History: $1,000,000 yrl KEESEP '16. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo, GISW, 6-2-3-1, $2,255,000.
Good Magic ran what would have amounted to a winning Derby in almost any other year. He broke on cue, settled willingly the first time past the stands, and stalked two paths off the rail while just behind the top two pacemakers into the clubhouse turn. This million-dollar KEESEP Curlin colt was surrounded on both sides down the backside, then appeared to back off a beat entering the far turn, but jockey Jose Ortiz was just biding his time to get out and around foes, and Good Magic re-accelerated to motor past a fading Bolt d'Oro while setting his sights on Justify. He loomed as a legit threat to the eventual winner off the turn, but three-sixteenths out he showed his first signs of cracking by wandering slightly to the outside. Good Magic stayed on well, but could then get no closer than two lengths to Justify in the final furlong. Trainer Chad Brown said that minor hesitation on the far turn “probably cost us a couple lengths, but I still can't imagine a scenario where Justify wouldn't have still been able to fend us off.” Good Magic is considered possible right now for the Preakness (a race his sire won in 2007). But Brown added that he doesn't “see a mile and a half for this horse,” so the Belmont is out.

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