Good Magic

E Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Stonestreet Stables’ Good Magic went from maiden to Breeders’ Cup Champion in about 1 minutes and 43 seconds, exploding past Solomini in upper stretch and drew off to a 4 1/4-length victory in the 2017 $2 million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar racetrack.

Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Jose Ortiz, Good Magic covered the 1 1/16 miles on a fast main track in 1:43.34 in becoming the first maiden to win the race.

The victory was the 10th for Brown in the Breeders’ Cup, but first in the Sentient Jet Juvenile. It was the second Breeders’ Cup victory for Ortiz and first in the Juvenile.

Sent off at odds of 11.5-1 in a 12-horse field in his first race around two turns, Good Magic broke from the gate smartly and stayed close to the pace under Ortiz up the backstretch. At the end of the far turn, Good Magic launched his bid between US Navy Flag (IRE) and Solomini to reach the front at the top of the stretch. “He’s make the others look like maidens,” intoned racecaller Trevor Denman, as Good Magic increased his margin to the wire. Bolt d’Oro, the 7-10 favorite, finished third.

“I thought he was a winner every step of the way” said Brown afterward. “I didn’t know who was coming behind him, but I loved the way he was traveling. We took a shot because he was a maiden, but he’s developing rapidly. I am so proud of this horse and proud of my staff. I feel so grateful that the two great owners who are partners in this horse gave me a chance with him. This is a shining example of the program Stonestreet has. He’s a homebred, then he was broke and trained on their farm in Ocala, and right on through to a Breeders’ Cup race. That’s doing it from start to finish. To allow me to be a part of their team now and train a horse like this is quite an honor. It sure is a thrill to have a really good 2-year-old in the barn. They’re so hard to find.”

Ortiz following Brown’s pre-race instructions to the letter. “It went the way (trainer) Chad (Brown) drew it up for me. He said, ‘Break good and leave. When you make your move, be ready to be on the outside.’ Because he didn’t like the way the track was playing inside. I waited and went to the outside. I had the opportunity to go inside but I stuck with the plan to go outside.”

Good Magic, second in his first two starts, is a son of 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Curlin and was bred by Stonestreet. Bob Edwards of e Five Thoroughbreds purchased Good Magic for $1 million at the 2016 Keeneland September sale. Barbara Banke of Stronestreet later joined as a partner. After being beaten by a length at 6 ½ furlongs at Saratoga in his first career start on August 26, Good Magic made an excellent runner-up effort in the one-mile Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park on October 7, losing by just a half-length. But Brown knew he had a special horse before shipping him to California for the Breeders’ Cup.

Good Magic was subsequently voted Champion 2-year-old of 2017.

Good Magic had a solid campaign in his 3-year-old season of 2018. He won the Toyota Blue Grass Stake (G1) s at Keeneland, and finished second to Justify in the Kentucky Derby. Following a fourth- place finish in the Preakness, Good Magic returned in August and won the Betfair Haskell. However, he had a rough trip in the Travers Stakes (G1) and wound up ninth as the 7-2 favorite.

Good Magic was retired on October 1 and was sent to stud at Hill ‘n ’Dale Farms, near Lexington, Ky.

"It is a bittersweet day," said Edwards. "Good Magic had a tremendous effect on my family, friends, our racing connections, and his fans. His heart and determination were second to none. Good Magic was a consummate professional throughout his racing career. My family and I look forward to seeing his offspring race at the highest level."