Curlin’s Good Magic Returns to Winning Ways in the Blue Grass

[Wandering Eyes]

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.

 

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