Stonestreet Stable and e Five Thoroughbreds's GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Good Magic (Curlin) shipped to Pimlico Monday and had his first gallop over the local main track Tuesday, traveling 1 1/4 miles over a muddy strip ahead of Saturday's GI Preakness S. The Chad Brown trainee appeared after the renovation break and galloped beneath regular exercise rider Walter Malasquez, who also has routinely galloped the likes of champion Lady Eli (Divine Park).
“He handled that track really good,” Malasquez reported. “He's still the same horse he was in the Kentucky Derby. Nothing changed. He's really easy and kind.”
Brown's traveling assistant Baldo Hernandez said he believes the colt is training better than ever following his second-place finish in the wake of 'TDN Rising Star' Justify (Scat Daddy) in the Preakness.
“I think he's moved forward now,” said Hernandez, who is overseeing Good Magic's training until Brown arrives from New York later in the week. “The way I see him galloping today, he looks really good to me. A smooth gallop. He galloped nice and easy. He can handle a [wet] track like that, too.”
Hernandez said that Good Magic would gallop again Wednesday, with a paddock schooling session slated for Thursday.
Also appearing at Pimlico Tuesday morning was Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas's pair of Preakness starters, Bravazo (Awesome Again) and 'TDN Rising Star' Sporting Chance (Tiznow). The colts jogged around the track after arriving to Pimlico after a long van ride from Churchill Downs Monday. Lukas said neither horse would put in any more serious preparations prior to Saturday's race.
“I'm going to go light–they are dead fit,” Lukas said. “That two-week break from the Derby, it isn't any different from the NBA or the NFL, the recovery is the thing. You've got to get that energy level back up. I want them to really have a high energy level on Saturday.”
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