Good Magic, who had a fair share of critics after his dull effort in the Fountain of Youth Stakes, rebounded in a big way on Saturday to remind the competition that he is still a force to be reckoned with. The big, flashy chestnut bounded over the wire by 1 1/2 lengths in the Grade II, Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, leaving a quality field of runners behind in defeat. The Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner and Champion Two-Year-Old of last year has indeed proven that the magic is back, and now it's off to Louisville for this major Derby contender.
When you stop and take a look at Good Magic, it is easy to see that he has all of the qualifications of a true Kentucky Derby contender. For starters, this colt has never finished worse than third throughout his entire career, proving that he has been a model of class and consistency. This colt has competed in top races, with quality horses from the very beginning, and he has always been able to hold his own against the best.
Good Magic may only have two wins in five starts, but both of those wins came in big ways, and when they counted the most. Good Magic broke his maiden in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile when he soundly defeated a field of elite runners, which included the likes of multiple graded stakes winner, Bolt d'Oro, as well as the highly talented and battle tested, Solomini. The big, red horse looked like he was something special that day at Del Mar when he romped away from all who challenged, and on Saturday, when he charged to glory in the Blue Grass Stakes, the same glimmer of magic and potential could be seen shining through him, once again.
Good Magic handed defeat to some very formidable rivals in his final Derby prep, including the ever gallant, Flameaway. The dauntless son of Scat Daddy has put together quite the resume for himself, collecting five wins in nine starts, in races ranging from turf, to synthetic, to dirt. The intrepid runner had done it all but simply could not repel the mighty challenge from Good Magic when he came sweeping by to steal his thunder in the stretch of the Blue Grass. After leading for most of the race, Flameaway had to settle for second best to a horse that simply could not be stopped.
The fact that Good Magic was able to take down a horse like Flameaway validates his class and talent. Flameaway may not be a horse that many people have on the top of their Derby lists, but the colt is far better than people give him credit for. The fact that Flameaway has won and placed in multiple stakes races and has won on various surfaces is impressive enough, but he has also defeated some very talented horses, who in turn have come back to win. Back in February, Flameaway wired the field in the Sam F. Davis Stakes. The horse that finished third to him that day was a colt named, Vino Rosso. A month later, Flameaway finished a very close second in the Tampa Bay Derby with Vino Rosso left far behind once again, this time in fourth. Vino Rosso's poor placings at Tampa Bay Downs made him appear to be a cut below some of the best. However, when he entered the Wood Memorial the same day that the Blue Grass was run, his performance there would state otherwise. Vino Rosso made a powerful move to out-duel the highly regarded, Enticed, who was fresh off of a victory of his own in the Gotham Stakes. Vino Rosso looked unstoppable as he pulled away in the Wood Memorial, which in turn made Flameaway look even better for easily defeating him twice in their previous meetings. And as we all know, Good Magic turned around to defeat Flameaway in the Blue Grass. So, how good does that make Good Magic look? There is no denying the fact that Good Magic has taken down several top rivals in both of his victories, stamping himself as one of the elite. The form in these prep races has been holding up, making Good Magic look like a very serious contender for the first Saturday in May.
Good Magic has the skill and the looks of a champion, and he also has the pedigree of one. The big, blazed horse is by Curlin, who excelled in two-turn races and always delivered his best against world-class competition. During his career as a racehorse, Curlin won 11 of his 16 starts, including the Preakness Stakes, the Jockey Club Gold Cup, the Breeders' Cup Classic, and the Dubai World Cup, just to name a few. He also finished a very game third in the 2007 Kentucky Derby, and suffered a dramatically narrow defeat in the grueling 1 1/2 mile Belmont Stakes, when he went head to head with the magnificent filly, Rags to Riches. Throughout his racing career, Curlin proved his endurance and heart time and time again, and has now passed on his class and stamina to his progeny, suggesting that Good Magic will only get better as the races get longer.
With the prep races out of the way, Good Magic can now set his sights on the ultimate prize that awaits in Louisville. The massive crowd, giant field, and testing final furlong in the Kentucky Derby will stand as the ultimate challenge to all of the young horses that will be setting sail in pursuit of the roses. Storming to glory on the first Saturday in May is no easy task, no matter how special a horse is. The intensity of the race will be unlike anything any of these young horses have experienced in their entire lives. But Good Magic has proven that he has the extra qualities that will help him overcome the obstacles that lie ahead. His trainer, Chad Brown, knows how to get a horse ready when victory matters the most, so I think it's safe to say that we will see Good Magic right there in the thick of it when the field charges down the stretch in the Kentucky Derby. As of now, there is a very real chance that we will see a spellbinding performance at Churchill Downs, with magic reigning supreme on the first Saturday in May.
Thank you to Leila Elliot of Bits and Pieces/Flintlock Photography for the amazing pictures of Good Magic. You can find her site here https://leilaangalean.wixsite.com/bitsandpieces
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