Good Magic

As we saw in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, if there's anything more exciting than a duel to the wire, it's the intrusion of a third nose. And that's pretty much the way a remarkable contest for the freshman sires' title is playing out entering the stretch. The first thing to stress is that it really shouldn't matter which of the stallions involved happens to bank the critical extra cents to claim the crown. That won't be how the marketing teams of their respective farms are viewing things, naturally, but...

Bat Flip (Good Magic) was sent off at odds of 23-5 to build upon a wire-to-wire maiden victory going two turns over the Aqueduct turf course Oct. 23, but showed a bit of a new dimension when forced to stalk the pace in Saturday's Central Park S. at the Big A. The $350,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga grad proved equal to the task in becoming a fifth stakes winner and first on the grass for his freshman sire (by Curlin). Looking intent on making the running yet again from his low draw,...

With about a month and a half to go to the end of the year, Coolmore America's Justify (Scat Daddy) is in a three-way battle with Spendthrift's Bolt d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) and Hill 'n' Dale's Good Magic (Curlin) for the freshman sire championship, which is measured by progeny earnings. Through Monday, Bolt d'Oro led narrowly with $2,122,968 to Justify's $2,065,556 in second place and Good Magic's $1,984,069 in third. Within striking distance are Hill 'n' Dale's Army Mule (Friesan Fire) in fourth with $1,762,485 and Three Chimneys's Sharp Azteca (Freud)...

LEXINGTON, KY - The Fasig-Tipton October Yearlings Sale, which produced a day of brisk trade during Monday's first session, saw activity tick up another notch during a vibrant day of trade Tuesday in Lexington. "The first horse through the ring this morning brought six figures and the last horse through the ring brought six figures," said Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning. "There was brisk activity and great trade, literally from start to finish today. It was very similar to yesterday." Midway through the four-day auction, 524 yearlings have sold for $28,232,900....

This is somewhat of a watershed year for freshman sires, with six first-crop sires within the top 10 on the list of leading sires of 2-year-olds in North America through Monday. Spendthrift stalwart Into Mischief leads the group (as he has for five of the last seven years), but the same farm's freshman Bolt d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) is second, Hill 'n' Dale's Good Magic (Curlin) is third, Coolmore America's Justify (Scat Daddy) is fourth, Hill 'n' Dale's Army Mule (Friesan Fire) is fifth, Three Chimneys's Sharp Azteca (Freud) is seventh,...

First things first, because this was not just a proxy war. Congratulations, then, to Blazing Sevens (Good Magic) for carving his name on the GI Champagne S. roll of honor, one of the most storied on the American Turf. John and Carla Capek of Rodeo Creek Racing have only owned racehorses for a couple of years, but here they are with the winner of a race once won in three consecutive runnings by Seattle Slew, Alydar and Spectacular Bid. They must be tremendously excited as Chad Brown prepares their colt...

'TDN Rising Star' Blazing Sevens (Good Magic), dismissed at 85-10 off a third-place run in Saratoga's GI Hopeful S. Sept. 5 over similarly sloppy conditions, splashed past his foes in the lane to become the first highest-level winner for his freshman sire (by Curlin). In the process, he earned an automatic spot in the starting gate for the Nov. 4 GI Fanduel Breeders' Cup Juvenile--a race his sire won handily in 2017 while still a maiden and coming off a close second in the Champagne. Well-regarded and well-bred Verifying (Justify)...

5th-BAQ, $95K, Msw, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 3:05 p.m. EDT Allen Stable's $575,000 KEESEP acquisition LIMITS OF POWER (Good Magic) makes his career bow in this spot for trainer Chug McGaughey. Out of GISP Modification (Vindication), the dark bay is a half-brother to Grade I-winning sprinter and new Spendthrift stallion Yaupon (Uncle Mo), as well as MGSP Sawyer's Hill (Spring At Last). He breezed a best-of-153 half-mile in :47 flat on the Belmont training track two works back Sept. 17. Chad Brown unveils another pricey graduate of that auction in $475,000...

6th-Churchill Downs, $123,375, Msw, 9-21, 2yo, 6f, 1:09.93, ft, 1 3/4 lengths. PROTEGE (c, 2, Good Magic--Taboo, by Forestry) became the 11th winner for his in-form first-crop sire (by Curlin) with a good-looking victory beneath the Twin Spires Wednesday. The $80,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic breezer (see below) was sent off at odds of 10.55-1 and jumped about midfield before working his way forward to sit third, just off dueling pacesetters. Warming up to the task three wide approaching the stretch, the Apr. 25 foal claimed pace-pressing Lugan Knight (Goldencents) with a...

Curly Jack became the second graded winner for his freshman sire (by Curlin) with an upset score in the GIII Iroquois S. at Churchill Downs Saturday. Away alertly, the bay raced off the fence in sixth in a tightly bunched pack as 'TDN Rising Star' and second choice in the betting Damon's Mound (Girvin) clocked a :23.53 opening quarter. Favored fellow 'Rising Star' Echo Again (Gun Runner) charged up to confront Damon's Mound as the half went in :47.48. Curly Jack bided his time as the top two knocked heads...

Peter Redekop's And Tell Me Nolies paid tribute to her late champion sire Arrogate Saturday, nailing heavy favorite and 'TDN Rising Star' Home Cooking (Honor Code) on the line to take the GI Del Mar Debutante S. Given a 9-1 chance with Home Cooking pounded down to 3-5, And Tell Me No Lies shuffled a bit at the start as her neighbors on each side broke in her direction, but she did not falter and moved up to establish position as the chalk took control, clocking a :22.01 first quarter....

It's not a too common occurrence for sales-topping purchases to make it on the track despite the world of promise their pedigree, physical, and connections might imply. Further out still is the extraordinary feat of reproducing themselves or--at the very least--producing several runners of equitable talent between them, though stallions have the task on significantly easier asking than do the fillies and mares. Mendelssohn is patiently inching closer to changing that outlook and his Del Mar winner from last Saturday proves the stallion can get a promising runner at any...