Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) champion, Good Magic went from being the early betting favorite for the Kentucky Derby in November to the fourth choice in March, but his stock seems to be on the rise.
The Chad Brown trainee did not make his three-year-old debut until the Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park on March 3 where he checked in a disappointing third as the beaten chalk. His future Derby odds after the race drifted up to +1400.
The colt bounced back with a victory in the Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland and he went from +1600 a few days before the race to his current price of +800.
We have seen two Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champs go on and get the Roses — Street Sense in 2007 and Nyquist in 2016.
Good Magic showed talent early in his career, breaking his maiden in his debut and then running a game second in the Champagne (G1) at Belmont Park last October.
Bet on the 2018 Kentucky Derby here!
Brown top trainer two years in a row
Brown, his trainer, is considered one of the best, taking the Eclipse Award for outstanding trainer in 2016 and 2017, doing his best work mainly with turf horses.
He has started just four runners in the Derby, his best finish a fourth with Normandy Invasion in 2013. Last year he saddled Practical Joke, who checked in fifth.
Good Magic was a $1-million Keeneland purchase. He is a son of Curlin, a two-time Horse of the Year who ran third in the 2007 Kentucky Derby, won the Preakness and was second in the Belmont Stakes.
His mare is stakes Sportsbook Glinda the Good, who was sired by Hard Spun, who ran second in the 2007 Derby. She ran well at Churchill Downs, finishing second in the Pocahontas (G2) in 2011.
Blue Grass runners in Derby slump
Only the Florida Derby has produced more Kentucky Derby Sportsbooks (24) than the Blue Grass (23), but it has been lean in recent years. Since Keeneland has gone back to conventional dirt, horses coming out of the Blue Grass are 0-for-11 in the Derby.
The Derby will be his third start of the year and Brown is as good as any trainer getting a horse to deliver his or her best in big races.
If Brown gets this colt to run a career top effort on Derby Day, he is going to be in the mix and likely at a decent price.
Record: 5-2-2-1
Earnings: $1,855,000
Sportsbook Odds: +800
Last Race: Won Blue Grass (G2)
Handicapper Michael Dempsey will be covering the Triple Crown for OddsShark and his full card reports with selections, analysis, fair odds line and wagering recommendations for major tracks can be found daily at turfnsport.com.
Related News
