Good Magic

STRENGTHS: Of Justify’s 19 rivals in the Kentucky Derby, Good Magic was the only one to put any pressure on him down the lane, ranging up in early stretch from a stalking position and briefly appearing to pose a danger. Although he could not sustain his charge and almost lost second to a hard-charging Audible, his performance was still top notch. No doubt Justify was superior in the slop at Churchill Downs, but if by chance Justify regresses off the Derby after being asked to do a lot over a short time this spring, this colt would seem the one most likely to capitalize in the Preakness. Besides his fine Derby effort, Good Magic brings much to the table, being the juvenile champion of 2017 and winner of this year’s Blue Grass. Moreover, his trainer is Chad Brown, the Eclipse Award-winning trainer of the past two years who won the 2017 Preakness with Cloud Computing.

WEAKNESSES: Like all the other returnees from the Derby, he is a potential regression candidate on the quick two-week turnaround into the Preakness. Though he clearly ran well to be the runner-up in the Derby, he enjoyed a favorable stalking trip, largely free of trouble, in contrast to some of the late-runners who ran into traffic. Based on that, it would seem Justify took his best punch, and it did not faze him.

BETTING VALUE: He is widely expected to be the second favorite behind Justify, with odds anticipated in the 5-2 to 3-1 range.

– Byron King

SIRE: Curlin, by fellow classic sire Smart Strike, finished third in the Kentucky Derby, won the Preakness Stakes, and was second in the Belmont Stakes. He has produced a classic winner or classicplaced runner from each of his first six crops, beginning with 2013 Belmont winner Palace Malice. Curlin was then represented by Ride On Curlin, the 2014 Preakness runner-up, and Keen Ice, third to American Pharoah in the 2015 Belmont before defeating the Triple Crown winner in the Travers. Exaggerator finished second in the Kentucky Derby before winning the Preakness, and Irish War Cry was second in last year’s Belmont. Juvenile champion Good Magic kept the streak going with a second in the Kentucky Derby.

DAM: Glinda the Good, a daughter of Curlin’s classic-placed rival Hard Spun, scored all her wins at a mile or longer, including the Instant Racing Stakes at Oaklawn and the Island Fashion Stakes at Sunland. The mare is a half-sister to several stakes winners and producers, including Grade 3 Distaff Turf Mile winner Take the Ribbon. This female family has been a successful cross with Curlin, with the stallion siring close relatives in Grade 2-placed route stakes winner Flash Forward and Group 3 winner Handsome Franco.

OUTLOOK: Good Magic has a stamina-laden pedigree and is well equipped for the rigors of the Triple Crown, with a sire who competed with distinction in all three races and a number of highclass runners on both sides of the page. Curlin scored major wins on wet tracks, and his progeny have inherited mudder abilities as Good Magic showed in the Derby. – Nicole Russo