Breeders’ Cup Juvenile 2017 winner Good Magic, one of the favorites for Kentucky Derby 2018, had his first work of the year for trainer Chad Brown. He fired a three furlong bullet at Palm Meadows on Sunday, Jan. 21. It was the best of ten moves at the distance.
Good Magic figures to have one published workout each week before his first 2018 target, the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park on March 3.
Last week, there were a trio of Kentucky Derby points races, and I had ranked contenders in two of those heats. Let’s go to the scoreboard for a recap:
Jerome Stakes Recap (1-13-18, 153 Final Rating)
My ninth ranked Derby contender, Firenze Fire, overcame a layoff, disrupted training schedule due to extreme weather conditions, wet track, and a lack of pace to gamely run down front runner Seven Trumpets in the rescheduled Jerome at Aqueduct on Jan. 13. I do not know if he is a legit Derby contender, and all four of his wins have been around one turn, but he is a decent colt. There is still a long way to go on the Derby trail, and these January preps may not mean much when all is said and done.
Lecomte Stakes Recap (1-13-18, 135 Final Rating)
Southern California shipper Instilled Regard sat a nice outside stalking trip and kicked home an easy 3+ length winner over post time favorite Principe Guilherme, who finished a neck in front of prominent throughout stablemate Snapper Sinclair. The winner was exiting the Los Al Futurity and is the second horse to exit that race and capture a graded event. McKinzie took the G3 Sham after he was placed first via disqualification in the Los Al showcase.
Smarty Jones Stakes Recap (1-15-18, 168 Final Rating)
The Oaklawn Park Kentucky Derby trail got underway on Jan. 15 with the Smarty Jones Stakes, and Mourinho controlled proceedings throughout as expected. The Bob Baffert trainee easily bested Remington Springboard Mile runner-up Combatant, and the other three entrants were far behind the top two. Mourinho will have to prove that he can handle distances beyond a mile in a truly run stakes routes in the near future, and he might knock heads with Combatant again in the Southwest Stakes. We did not learn much in this paceless 5-horse field.
In other Kentucky Derby 2018 contender news, Peace (5f in 1:00.80) and Shivermetimbers (5f in 1:01.20) both worked five panels at Santa Anita Park on Jan. 21. They are both targeting the Robert Lewis Stakes on Feb. 3 at the Great Race Place.
Instilled Regard and Shivermetimbers are not the only horses on the Derby trail for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. Choo Choo captured the California Derby at Golden Gate Fields for the veteran conditioner on Jan. 20. The El Camino Real Derby on Feb. 17 at Golden Gate is his next stop, and it is a Kentucky Derby points race.
Kiaran McLaughlin has two horses on the Derby trail, and both are working in Florida. G2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes hero Enticed breezed 5f in 1:01 at Palm Meadows on Jan. 19, and G2 Remsen runner-up Avery Island went the same distance in 1:00.75 on Jan. 20.
Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes runner-up Tiz Mischief is back to work in Florida for Dale Romans. He traveled 5f in :59.80 at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 13, and he breezed the same distance in a bullet :59.86 on Jan. 20.
Navistar could not get a plane to Oaklawn Park for the Smarty Jones Stakes, so he had to scratch out of that event. He worked 5f in 1:02.07 at Palm Beach Downs on Jan. 15, and 5f in 1:03.19 at that same venue on Jan. 21.
McKinzie had his first work since his win in the G3 Sham on Jan. 6. He traveled an easy half-mile in 49 seconds at Santa Anita Park on Jan. 21. His next start is undetermined.
Good Magic capture above and speed figures below courtesy of Today's Racing Digest.
Jarrod Horak’s “Exceptional Eleven" Kentucky Derby 2018 Contenders
(1) BOLT D’ORO (Medaglia d’Oro - Globe Trot, by A.P. Indy)
Trainer (Mick Ruis) - Owner (Ruis Racing)
Top Today’s Racing Digest Final Rating: 140 (FrontRunner Stakes, SA, 9-30-17)
Comments: His 3-for-4 juvenile campaign included grade one tallies in the Del Mar Futurity and FrontRunner Stakes. In his final 2-year-old start, he experienced a very wide trip from an outer post in the the BC Juvenile and ended up a respectable 3rd considering the lost ground. He deserves the Eclipse Award for top juvenile in the land, and he has always been my number one ranked Derby contender. He was originally slated to return in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Feb 10, but a muscle pull altered those plans. He is now expected to have two Kentucky Derby preps, beginning with the San Felipe at Santa Anita on March 10, followed by the Santa Anita Derby. He is currently galloping in Southern California and should return to the work tab in the near future.
Derby Points (14)
(2) GOOD MAGIC (Curlin - Glinda the Good, by Hard Spun)
Trainer (Chad Brown) - Owner (e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Stonestreet Stables)
Top Today’s Racing Digest Final Rating: 153 (BC Juvenile, 11-4-17)
Latest Workout: 3f bullet in :36.95 (1/10) at Palm Meadows on Jan 21.
Comments: He ran the best overall race in his place finish in the G1 Champagne, and his Today’s Racing Digest numbers went through the roof in a visually impressive score in the BC Juvenile. He has been part of my Derby list all along, and following a training stint at Stonestreet Farm in Ocala, he headed to Palm Meadows to join the rest of Brown’s Florida string in mid-December. He returned to the work tab with a three furlong bullet on Jan. 21, and figures to begin his 3-year-old campaign in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park on March 3.
Derby Points (24)
(3) SOLOMINI (Curlin - Surf Song, by Storm Cat)
Trainer (Bob Baffert) - Owner (Zayat Stables)
Top Today’s Racing Digest Final Rating: 140 (BC Juvenile, 11-4-17)
Latest Workout: 4f in :49 (19/36) at Santa Anita Park on Dec 28.
Comments: The G1 FrontRunner and G1 BC Juvenile runner-up crossed the line first in the G1 Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity (137 Final Rating) but was disqualified and placed 3rd. He was clearly best at Los Al and it was nice to see him relax and finish strong. McKinzie exited that heat to win the G3 Sham on Jan. 6, and Instilled Regard came out of that race to capture the G3 Lecomte at Fair Grounds on Jan. 13. He recently got sick and has yet to work this year. At this point, it looks as though he will have two Derby preps, and they will most likely occur at Oaklawn Park and/or Santa Anita Park.
Derby Points (14)
(4) MCKINZIE (Street Sense - Runway Model, by Petionville)
Trainer (Bob Baffert) - Owner (Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, Paul Weitman)
Top Today’s Racing Digest Final Rating: 149 (Sham Stakes, SA, 1-6-18)
Latest Workout: 4f in :49 (45/87) at Santa Anita Park on Jan 21.
Comments: He is technically 3-for-3 (placed first via DQ in Los Al Futurity), but let there be no doubt that his stablemate Solomini was best at Los Alamitos Race Course on 12-9-17. He removed blinkers for his 2018 debut and was a strong stalk and pounce winner of the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan 6. He is expected to race two more times at Oaklawn Park (Rebel, Arkansas Derby) and/or Santa Anita (San Felipe, SA Derby) prior to the first Saturday in May.
Derby Points (20)
(5) NOBLE INDY (Take Charge Indy - Noble Maz, by Storm Boot)
Trainer (Todd Pletcher) - Owner (WinStar Farm)
Top Today’s Racing Digest Final Rating: 141 (OC, GP, 1-11-18)
Comments: He made his career debut at Gulfstream Park on Dec 3, and in that seven panel affair, he went straight to the front and cruised home by 8+ lengths. He returned in an entry level allowance route at Gulfstream on Thursday, January 11, and in that exciting event, he hooked up with promising Mark Casse runner Mississippi from start to finish. John Velazquez confidently handled Noble Indy through the stretch and he gamely prevailed by 3/4ths of a length. Mississippi was 6+ lengths clear of the show, and the final time was 1:42.52. He is on the upswing for Pletcher and appears ready for stakes company.
(6) PRINCIPE GUILHERME (Tapit - Aubby K, by Street Sense)
Trainer (Steve Asmussen) - Owner (Three Chimneys Farm)
Top Today’s Racing Digest Final Rating: 143 (Optional Claiming, FG, 12-16-17)
Comments: Romped in his first two starts including an impressive two turn allowance score at Fair Grounds on Dec 16. He went off as the favorite in the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds on Saturday, January 13, and ended up a grinding 2nd (123 Final Rating) after a wide trip from an outer post. He will have to run faster in his next Derby prep, which will probably come in the Grade 2 Risen Star in New Orleans on Feb. 19.
Derby Points (4)
(7) HOLLYWOOD STAR (Malibu Moon - Hollywood Story, by Wild Rush)
Top Today’s Racing Digest Final Rating: 134 (Iroquois Stakes, CD, 9-16-17)
Latest Workout: 5f in 1:00.25 (2/40) at Gulfstream Park on Jan 20.
Trainer (Dale Romans) - Owner (Albaugh Family Racing)
Comments: Followed up a debut maiden win at CD June 28 with back-to-back place finishes in the G2 Saratoga Special and G3 Iorquois. His CPR, FIRE, and Pace Ratings improved in each of his first three starts, and the Romans trainee broke from post 12 and rallied from last to split the field in the BC Juvenile. Romans says that he has yet to put everything together in the morning and afternoon, and he has every right to improve as a 3-year-old. He has returned to training in South Florida, and had his first work of the year on Jan. 6.
Derby Points (4)
(8) FREE DROP BILLY (Union Rags - Trensa, by Giant’s Causeway)
Trainer (Dale Romans) - Owner (Albaugh Family Stables)
Top Today’s Racing Digest Final Rating: 140 (Breeders’ Futurity, KEE, 10-7-17)
Latest Workout: 5f in 1:01.04 (11/40) at Gulfstream Park on Jan 20.
Comments: He stalked from midpack from an outer post handled two turns with ease in the G1 Breeders’ Futurity (1st by 4 lengths) on October 7. He made a bit of a middle move in the BC Juvenile but was basically done after six furlongs in a very disappointing performance (9th of 12). He enjoyed a productive juvenile campaign and returned to work at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 6.
Derby Points (10)
(9) FIRENZE FIRE (Poseidon’s Warrior - My Every Wish, by Langfuhr)
Trainer (Jason Servis) - Owner (Mr Amore Stables)
Top Today’s Racing Digest Final Rating: 153 (Jerome Stakes, AQU, 1-13-18)
Comments: He captured the G3 Sanford and G1 Champagne (140 Final Rating) as a juvenile before finishing a flat 7th in the BC Juvenile. He finally was able to make his sophomore debut in the rescheduled Jerome at Aqueduct on Saturday, Jan. 13, and he overcame a layoff, lack of pace, and a wet track to run down lone speed Seven Trumpets. The 3-time stakes winner obviously has ability but all four of his wins were around one turn, and stamina continues to be the main question. The Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on March 10 might be next.
Derby Points (20)
(10) CATHOLIC BOY (More Than Ready - Song of Bernadette, by Bernardini)
Trainer (Jonathan Thomas) - Owner (Robert V. LaPenta)
Top Today’s Racing Digest Final Rating: 134 (Remsen Stakes, AQU, 12-2-17)
Latest Workout: 4f in :49.20 (3/6) at Bridlewood Farm on Jan. 12.
Comments: Won 3 of his 4 juvenile outings including a smart surface switching tally in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct on Dec. 2. He got back on the work tab on Jan. 12 and could make his 3-year-old debut in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 10. The Risen Star at Fair Grounds on Feb. 17 is also an option if he needs another week.
Derby Points (10)
(11) MASK (Tapit - Hidden Expression, by Yonaguska)
Trainer (Chad Brown) - Owner (Lane’s End Racing)
Top Today’s Racing Digest Final Rating: 152 (Mucho Macho Man Stakes, GP, 1-6-18)
Latest Workout: 4f in :49.75 (41/82) at Palm Meadows on Jan. 20.
Comments: Chad Brown’s $685,000 purchase easily won his sprint debut at Belmont Park on 10-20-17, and was on cruise control throughout in an effortless wire job win in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes (one-turn mile) at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 6. The Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds on Feb. 17 might be his next assignment.
THE NEXT NINE: (12) Instilled Regard, (13) Enticed, (14) Tiz Mischief, (15) Mississippi, (16) Combatant, (17) Avery Island, (18) Peace, (19) Mourinho, (20) Navistar
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