Derby runner-up Good Magic possible for Preakness

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Good Magic, the runner-up to Justify in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, and the quartet of horses trained by Todd Pletcher – including third-place finisher Audible – all emerged from their efforts in good shape Sunday morning. While Pletcher is likely to focus on the Belmont Stakes with a couple of his horses, Chad Brown, the trainer of Good Magic, is leaving the door open for a potential start in the Preakness on May 19.

“I’m not a two-week guy, but that said, his sire [Curlin] came back in two weeks and won the Preakness, and this horse ran a real credible race, and a lot of things can happen over the next two weeks,” said Brown, who trains Good Magic for Barbara Banke and Bob Edwards. “So, I think I’ll just take him back to New York and follow all the horses that are going to be running there [in Preakness]. We’ll watch our horse, and we’ll decide if it’s in his best interest.”

:: Get the Preakness All-Access package for just $29.95

Good Magic was scheduled to fly to New York on Monday and be based at Belmont Park while Brown decides where to run him next. Brown has discounted running Good Magic in the Belmont Stakes because he doesn’t believe the horse is suited for 1 1/2 miles.

Brown said he was pleased with Good Magic’s trip in the Kentucky Derby. He told Jose Ortiz not to let Justify to get too far away from him. Brown said the only bad part of the trip came around the three-eighths pole when Bolt d’Oro moved a little sooner than Good Magic, forcing Good Magic to go around him.

“I don’t think we would have won the race, but we would have been a lot closer,” Brown said. “There certainly wouldn’t have been a photo for second.”

Good Magic won the photo for second by a head over Audible, who was 12th early and then got steadied around the far turn when he was making his move. Jockey Javier Castellano had to alter course to the inside, and Audible came with a good rally in the stretch to get third.

“The more I watch the replay, the more I think he ran huge, just got racked up a couple of times in the first turn, spent the backside trying to get back into position, was fighting the dirt and climbing and all that stuff,” Pletcher said. “Once he finally got him motivated on the far turn, he ran well. It’s a shame he missed second by a couple of inches, but a big effort.”

Elliott Walden, president and chief executive of WinStar Farm, a co-owner of Audible as well as Justify, said Audible likely would be pointed to the Belmont Stakes on June 9.

Pletcher said Vino Rosso, who finished ninth, beaten 10 1/2 lengths, in the Kentucky Derby, also will be pointed to the Belmont. Pletcher said that had always been the plan for Vino Rosso, whose pedigree suggests he would be effective at the distance. Pletcher said Vino Rosso came out of the Derby with lot of dirt in his eyes.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a horse have as much dirt in their eyes after a race, still flushing out this morning,” Pletcher said. “Aside from that, sound. Everybody seemed to be good this morning.”

Pletcher said that John Velazquez told him he didn’t think Vino Rosso handled the wet track at all.

“Johnny said he didn’t feel like in the post parade he was getting a great hold of it, never got real enthusiastic,” Pletcher said. “He said he kind of felt he just went through the motions throughout the race, and then you look at the chart, and he didn’t get beat that far.”

Noble Indy and Magnum Moon finished 17th and 19th for Pletcher in the Kentucky Derby. Both horses will be shipped to Belmont Park with no set plan. Pletcher said Magnum Moon, who had won all four of his starts since debuting in January, likely will get a freshening.