Good Magic looks to retake lead in Kentucky Derby points chase

Feb 27, 2018 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

With the arrival of the Kentucky Derby Championship Series points races, which began last weekend in the Risen Star (G2), changes to the Kentucky Derby (G1) leaderboard should come fast and furious over the next six weeks.

While fans will have three preps to look forward to on March 10, this weekend's sole prep will be Saturday's Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park, with 50 points on the line to the winner. Significantly, it will mark the three-year-old debut of Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner and two-year-old champion Good Magic, presently second on the leaderboard with 24 points.

Trained by Chad Brown, Good Magic earned four points for finishing second in the Champagne (G1) in October, then was a romping winner over Solomini and Bolt d'Oro in the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar, worth 20 qualifying points to the winner.

Trainer Dale Romans is expected to take another big swing at a Gulfstream prep as he could be represented by as many as three in the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth. His most prominent entry will be Free Drop Billy (#8, 14 points), winner of last fall's Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland. Though he ran up the track in the Breeders' Cup, Free Drop Billy rebounded to finish a clear second in the Holy Bull (G2) in early February.

Also likely to start for Romans is Promises Fulfilled (#33, 2), who earned two points finishing third in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2), and recent allowance winner Storm Runner. Also looking for his first Derby qualifying points will be Strike Power, two-for-two in sprints including the seven-furlong Swale (G3) on February 3 for trainer Mark Hennig.