Good Magic makes Bolt d’Oro disappear in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile win

Nov 05, 2017 Ed DeRosa/Brisnet.com

Bolt d’Oro entered the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) starting gate as the clear favorite to win the 2018 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, but after 1 1/16 miles, it was Good Magic who was all alone at the finish and atop the Derby leaderboard with 24 points.

Good Magic earned 20 points for his 4 1/4-length victory over Solomini in the $1,840,000 Juvenile. It was another length back to Bolt d’Oro, who was 8 1/4 lengths clear of Givemeaminit in fourth.

“It sure is a thrill to have a really good two-year-old in the barn,” said Chad Brown, who trains the colt for a partnership between e Five Racing and breeder Stonestreet Farm. “This guy here is developing rapidly; he’s not a real big horse, but he’s growing. This was his first time around two turns, and he aced the test.”

Good Magic’s pedigree could portend good things for the Derby, as he is by Curlin out of a mare by Hard Spun. Those two sires both raced in the 2007 Kentucky Derby with Hard Spun and Curlin second and third, respectively, behind 2006 Juvenile winner Street Sense.

“(Trainer) Chad (Brown) has been one of the best turf trainers in the country, and bang! He turned out an amazing race today (on dirt) with an amazing horse,” said Bob Edwards, whose I5 racing co-owns Good Magic.

Indeed, this was Brown’s 10th Breeders’ Cup victory but only second on dirt. The Eclipse Award-winning trainer also earned his first classic victory this year when Cloud Computing won the Preakness Stakes.

As for the favorite, Bolt d’Oro started from the 11th post position in the 12-horse field, and was wide on the first turn. He made a middle move to range into contention, but Good Magic had already started his sprint for home at the quarter pole and could not be caught.

“I thought he was a winner every step of the way,” Brown said. “I didn’t know who was coming behind him, but I loved the way he was traveling.”

“It went the way Chad drew it up for me,” jockey Jose Ortiz said of Brown’s pre-race instructions. “He said, ‘Break good and leave.’”

Good Magic was never more than four lengths off the pace, and Solomoni, who got first run on pacesetter U S Navy Flag, offered no response when Good Magic ranged up to his outside.

Good Magic will likely not race again until his three-year-old season.