Good Magic may get go-head

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Chad Brown appears to be more enthusiastic about starting Kentucky Derby runner-up Good Magic in next Saturday’s Preakness Stakes at Pimlico.

After watching Good Magic gallop a solid 1 1/4 miles Friday over the Belmont Park main track, Brown stopped just short of committing last year’s 2-year-old male champion to the second jewel of Thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown and a rematch with Derby winner Justify. Brown did say that if Good Magic runs in the Preakness, he would van to Baltimore on Monday.

“It’s looking more and more like a possibility,” Brown said in his Belmont Park office. “But I want to stick to my plan of really giving the horse the weekend to see.

“I was thrilled with the way he came out of the Derby, knowing from past Derbies I’ve participated in, whether the track was wet or dry, they don’t all come out well. This is the best I’ve ever had a horse come out of the Derby.”

Good Magic, by Curlin, was beaten 2 1/2 lengths by Justify in the Kentucky Derby, run over an extremely sloppy track. Since Brown does not have designs of running Good Magic in the Belmont Stakes – he doesn’t believe the horse would be effective at 1 1/2 miles – he’ll either run him in the Preakness or wait until late June or July to run him again.

However, Brown said the decision to run in the Preakness would be based on how Good Magic is training and not on his future racing schedule. Good Magic returned to Belmont Park from Louisville, Ky., on Monday and jogged a mile Wednesday and Thursday over the smaller Belmont training track.

On Friday, Good Magic went to the main track following the 8:45 a.m. renovation break and stood for several minutes along the outside rail near the 1 1/4-mile pole. Following a bevy of workouts from others, Good Magic proceeded into his gallop and appeared to be moving fluidly on a gorgeous spring morning.

“His first day galloping, I’m really looking to see what his energy level is and how he’s moving,” Brown said. “He’s moving very smooth. I couldn’t be happier with him.”

Good Magic was expected to gallop Saturday and Sunday, after which Brown will discuss the Preakness with owners Bob Edwards and Barbara Banke.

Pony Up breezes, has options

Pony Up, third behind My Boy Jack in the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on April 14, breezed a half-mile in 48.83 seconds Friday over the Belmont training track for a possible start in the Preakness.

Under John Velazquez, Pony Up worked inside of the 3-yearold maiden winner Autostrade. The pair went an opening quarter in 23.94 seconds and a final quarter in 24.89. Pony Up galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.86 and six furlongs in 1:14.15. Pony up is owned by Calumet Farm.

“Typical Pony Up work, seems to be holding form,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “We’ll see how things develop over the weekend, talk to the Calumet group, and figure it out.”

If he doesn’t run in the Preakness, Pony Up could run in the $100,000 Sir Barton Stakes on the Preakness card.

Justify gallops at Churchill

While the Kentucky Derby is in the rearview mirror, the focus is still squarely on the Bluegrass State as runners prepare for the Preakness. The majority of the prospective field, led by Kentucky Derby winner Justify, is currently based at either Churchill Downs or Keeneland.

For the second consecutive morning, Justify galloped about 1 1/2 miles Friday at Churchill under regular exercise rider Humberto Gomez. Assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes, who is supervising the chestnut colt, said Justify is displaying no ill effects after being treated for a bruise to his left-hind hoof following the Derby. The colt is shod in a three-quarter shoe on his left hind.

“That’s his normal self out there,” Barnes said following the gallop. “High energy level, feeling very good, got a good bounce in his step, going over the track perfect. Couldn’t fault anything he’s doing right now.”

Trainer Bob Baffert said he will be back in Louisville on Sunday night, and Justify is scheduled to fly to Baltimore on Wednesday. Baffert said Justify’s training schedule for the week hasn’t been finalized, but he has not ruled out working the colt.

“I’ll get there and decide,” Baffert said at Santa Anita on Friday. “I don’t know what we’ll do. He’s pretty ready.”

Also stabled at Churchill Downs are D. Wayne Lukas’s confirmed Preakness duo of Bravazo and Sporting Chance, along with possible entrants Lone Sailor and Tenfold.

Down the highway at Keeneland, Tampa Bay Derby winner Quip, who skipped the Derby to await the Preakness, was expected to breeze Sunday. Preakness possibility Bolt d’Oro, who was 12th in the Derby, is also stabled at Keeneland, owing to its proximity to owner and trainer Mick Ruis’s recently acquired Chestnut Farm. Corey Nakatani will regain the mount on Bolt d’Oro for his next start, according to his agent, Matt Nakatani, with the June 2 Penn Mile or June 9 Woody Stephens possible if the colt bypasses the Belmont.

The three Preakness candidates stabled outside of Kentucky are Derby runner-up Good Magic and Pony Up, both in New York, and Diamond King, based at Parx in Pennsylvania.