Wandering Eyes

Reigning juvenile male champion Good Magic took home the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland April 7 and added 100 points to his Road to the Kentucky Derby total. View the full article

In an unusual running of the $200,000 Royal Heroine Stakes (G2T) April 7, which saw favorite Enola Gray break slow, and a back-and-forth exchange of leaders, Beau Recall flew home from off the pace to score her first graded stakes victory. View the full article

In an unusual running of the $200,000 Royal Heroine Stakes (G2T) April 7, that saw favorite Enola Gray break slow, and a back-and-forth exchange of leaders, Beau Recall (IRE) flew from off the pace to score her first graded stakes victory. View the full article

You had an Eclipse Award winner redeem himself and score a decisive win in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S., and even he couldn’t hold center stage for more than 50 minutes or so. Good Magic (Curlin) had barely cooled out from his win at Keeneland when along came the freakishly talented ‘TDN Rising Star’ Justify (Scat Daddy), who won the GI Santa Anita Derby with aplomb and likely cemented the role of GI Kentucky Derby favorite. Good who? That’s the kind of day it was and the kind of prep season it has been. These 3-year-old monsters keep coming, one after another, strutting their stuff and pumping their chests and racing like they are in a hurry to get to the Hall of Fame. Audible (Into Mischief), Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy), Good Magic, Justify, Magnum Moon (Malibu Moon), even Bolt d’Oro (Medaglia d’Oro), who hardly disgraced himself when second in the Santa Anita Derby. The next level down, which includes horses like GII Tampa Bay Derby winner Quip (Distorted Humor), GII Louisiana Derby hero Noble Indy (Take Charge Indy) and Solomini (Culrin), is also loaded with good colts. This is as deep and as talented a group of Kentucky Derby contenders as most of us have seen in our lifetimes, and it very well could be the best group to ever converge on Churchill Downs for America’s favorite horse race. Derby experts will tell you that the 1957 Kentucky Derby may have been the best ever when it came to the quality of the field. The second, third and fourth-place finishers (Gallant Man, Round Table and Bold Ruler) all made it to the Hall of Fame and the race winner Iron Liege might deserve to be in there, as well. Claiming that the 2018 group is the best ever might be a bit of hype and it’s certainly speculation, but it’s undeniable that this crop of Derby-bound 3-year-olds is spectacular, and that point was again driven home Saturday. The festivities started with the GII Wood Memorial S., which was just a nice race. That’s not going to cut it in this year. Trainer Todd Pletcher, who is loaded, won the race with Vino Rosso (Curlin). It was a good showing after he was flat when fourth in the Tampa Bay Derby and kicked off a huge day for John Gunther’s small breeding operation. Gunther is also the breeder of Justify. The Wood featured some pretty healthy bumping between Vino Rosso and runner-up Enticed (Medaglia d’Oro), but the stewards made the right call by not taking Vino Rosso down. A Wood winner has not come back to win the Kentucky Derby since Fusaichi Pegasus in 2000, a streak that appears certain to continue. Good Magic hadn’t embarrassed himself when third in the GII Xpressbet Fountain of Youth S., but it was not the type of performance most expected from a horse that had won the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in his prior start. That’s why, for him, the Blue Grass represented a fork in the road. Would he be the horse who had won the Breeders’ Cup or the horse who had little kick in the Fountain of Youth. If the result were the latter, he was not going to be a factor in the Kentucky Derby. Whatever happened in the Fountain of Youth happened. Good Magic was back on his game Saturday, winning by 1 1/2 lengths. It was not an explosive performance, but it was more than good enough. In most any other year, with his credentials, he would be a solid Derby favorite. This year, he could be third of fourth choice. Then came the main event. Justify has been the talk of the sport since his electrifying maiden win Feb. 18 at Santa Anita. From that day on, no one has doubted his talent, but he didn’t exactly fit the profile of a Kentucky Derby winner. He did not race at two, did not race around two turns until March, winning an allowance, and the Santa Anita Derby was his stakes debut. He presented trainer Bob Baffert with a challenging situation, but Baffert has managed it marvelously. None of which meant he had to win the Santa Anita Derby. The opposition included Bolt d’Oro, a two-time Grade I winner as a 2-year-old, the winner of the GII San Felipe S. (via disqualification) and a horse that might have come into yesterday’s race undefeated had he not had a terrible trip in the Juvenile. Justify was done facing tomato cans. He was stepping into the ring with a heavyweight who packed a knockout punch. And Justify, a winner by three lengths, had no problem beating him. What he has accomplished in the span of 48 days…horses just don’t do that. Yet…I still must point out that he had a dream trip in the Santa Anita Derby. After competing in two five-horse races, he lined up against just six opponents and the crafty big-race rider Mike Smith undressed his rival jockeys. Justify was left alone on the lead through fractions of :23.96 and :47.85 and the only horse who presented even the slightest challenge at any point in the race was Bolt d’Oro. There will not be seven horses in the Kentucky Derby and he will not get to an uncontested lead through fractions more befitting a $12,500 claiming race somewhere. Justify deserves to be the Derby favorite, no matter what happens in the one remaining prep, the GI Arkansas Derby, which figures to be another very good race. But that doesn’t mean he has to win and it doesn’t mean he is the best horse. We are just eight days removed from an afternoon when Audible looked very good winning the GI Florida Derby and Mendelssohn left us breathless in his win in the G2 UAE Derby. I can’t tell you who will win the Kentucky Derby. I can tell you it will be a horse who will go down as one of the best in modern times. Of that, I am sure. You beat this bunch and you are something extra special. View the full article

Vino Rosso fought past Enticed in the Aqueduct Racetrack stretch, then survived an objection and inquiry regarding a bumping incident in the lane to capture the Wood Memorial presented by NYRA Bets (G2) April 7. View the full article

Despite getting squeezed at the start, the Speightstown colt used a rush along the outside to win the $250,000 Bay Shore Stakes (G3). View the full article

Midnight Bisou had been plenty impressive in her racing career prior to the $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks (G1), but what she did April 7 was above and beyond any of her past performances. View the full article

MIDNIGHT BISOU (f, 3, Midnight Lute–Diva Delite, by Repent) will head to Churchill next month as one of the likely favorites for the GI Kentucky Oaks after an eye-catching victory in the GI Santa Anita Oaks Saturday. Running second last early as Thirteen Squared (Liaison) clocked early fractions of :23.47 and :47.63, the 3-5 chalk circled the field to move into contention on the backstretch run. The dark bay swept to the lead in the stretch and rolled clear down the three path to win by three lengths in 1:44.79. GII Sorrento S. winner Spectator (Jimmy Creed) made a solid run for second. Winning rider Mike Smith scored a Grade I double, having captured the GI Santa Anita Derby two races earlier aboard undefeated ‘TDN Rising Star’ Justify (Scat Daddy). Missing by a nose to recently sidelined Grade I winner Dream Tree (Uncle Mo) in her first two starts, including the Nov. 18 Desi Arnaz S., Midnight Bisou earned her diploma with a decisive victory in the GII Santa Ynez S. going seven panels here Jan. 7. The $80,000 OBSAPR buy followed suit with a 2 1/4-length defeat of Thirteen Squared in the GIII Santa Ysabel S. Mar. 3. Lifetime Record: 5-3-2-0. O-Bloom Racing Stable & Allen Racing; B-Woodford Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Bill Spawr. View the full article

Multiple graded stakes winner Finley'sluckycharm won the $300,000 Madison Stakes (G1) April 7 at Keeneland and retained her spotless record in Kentucky. View the full article

Chin's copybook ride on Webster vindicates Meagher View the full article

Ideal conditions see Siam Sapphire sparkle again View the full article

Classic-bound Zac Kasa jogs in View the full article

Placais-Takaoka lose a Star to win a Sun View the full article

Nova Vocal makes himself heard loud and clear on debut View the full article

Early scratchings April 8 View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings April 8 View the full article

Horses' body weights April 8 View the full article

Multiple grade 1 winner Bolt d'Oro did his best to cut into the large lead Justify built on the front end in the final turn of the 1 1/8-mile test at Santa Anita Park, but that powerful stride just kept forging on. View the full article

Unbeaten ‘TDN Rising Star’ JUSTIFY (c, 3, Scat Daddy–Stage Magic, by Ghostzapper) passed his first real class test with flying colors, effortlessly wiring the GI Santa Anita Derby to secure his spot in the starting gate on the First Saturday in May. Arguably the most hyped horse on the GI Kentucky Derby trail on the back of a pair of dominant victories at Santa Anita this winter, the $500,000 KEESEP buy was originally being pointed to the GI Arkansas Derby next weekend, but was re-routed to this test after stablemate and fellow ‘Rising Star’ McKinzie (Street Sense) was sidelined. Billed as a two-horse race between Justify and MGISW Bolt d’Oro, the Bob Baffert pupil was given the nod at 4-5 with his chief rival at even-money. Seizing the early advantage, Justify was well within himself as he ticked off early fractions of :23.96 and :47.85 while well clear of Bolt d’Oro. The Ruis runner closed the gap on the backstretch and the stage appeared set for the showdown everyone expected. However, Justify always had his rival’s measure and was still under a hand ride in the stretch, while Bolt d’Oro was asked for everything he had and guided to the inside of the leader by Javier Castellano. Hall of Famer Mike Smith gave Justify two taps of the whip in the final sixteenth and the he coasted home to win by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:49.72. Bolt d’Oro held second over longshot Core Beliefs (Quality Road). Justify is the 25th Grade I winner for the late Scat Daddy, who was also represented by GII Toyota Blue Grass S. runner-up Flameaway. The winner shares ownership with last Saturday’s GI Florida Derby hero Audible (Into Mischief), who he will face off with in Louisville. Part owners China Horse Club, WinStar and SF Racing are also the connections of today’s impressive GIII Bay Shore S. winner National Flag (Speightstown) and GII Tampa Bay Derby victor Quip (Distorted Humor), who takes Justify’s place in Arkansas. Justify’s breeder John Gunther is also responsible for today’s GII Wood Memorial S. winner Vino Rosso (Curlin). Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0. O-China Horse Club, WinStar, Head of Plains, Starlight & SF Racing; B-John Gunther (KY); T-Bob Baffert. View the full article

Monomoy Girl secures the first grade 1 win for trainer Brad Cox in the $500,000 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland April 7 and ensures herself a spot in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1). View the full article

Making his stakes debut at the highest level, Army Mule found room inside off the turn and rolled to 6 1/4-length score in the $400,000 Carter Handicap April 7 at Aqueduct Racetrack. View the full article

Champion GOOD MAGIC (c, 3, Curlin–Glinda the Good, by Hard Spun) returned to winning ways and stamped his ticket to the GI Kentucky Derby with a good-looking victory in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland Saturday evening. Entering this off a best-of-54 half-mile in :48 flat at Palm Meadows Mar. 31, he was hammered down to 8-5 favoritism to improve off a disappointing third as the heavy favorite in his seasonal bow in Gulfstream’s GII Fountain of Youth S. Mar. 3. Breaking from post 11 in this full field, the $1 million KEESEP buy ran wide in mid-pack through an opening half in :47.40. Advancing on the backstretch run, Good Magic ranged up three-wide to take on pacesetting Flameaway (Scat Daddy) turning for home, took command in the stretch and kicked clear to score. Flameaway held second. Grade I winner Sporting Chance (Tiznow) veered out sharply in the final sixteenth, interfering with fellow GISW Free Drop Billy (Union Rags), but still crossed the wire third. Sporting Chance was taken down and Free Drop Billy was promoted to third after a stewards inquiry and jockey claim of foul. Runner-up to a ‘TDN Rising Star’ performance from Hazit (War Front) on debut at Saratoga on GI Travers S. day Aug. 26, Good Magic missed by a half-length in Belmont’s GI Champagne S. Oct. 7. The chestnut broke his maiden in style next out with a decisive score in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, which earned him an Eclipse Award. Lifetime Record: 5-2-2-1. O-e Five Racing Thoroughbreds & Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings (KY); T-Chad Brown. View the full article

Reigning juvenile male champion Good Magic takes home the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland April 7 and adds 100 points to his previous 34 qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. View the full article

Monomoy Girl secures first grade 1 win for trainer Brad Cox in the $500,000 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland April 7 and ensures herself a spot in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1). View the full article

Fatale Bere has given a good account of herself since she moved from France to Southern California in the fall of 2017, but she put it all together April 7 at Santa Anita Park. View the full article