Good Magic gets in gallop over soggy Pimlico

BALTIMORE, Md. -- Kentucky Derby runner-up Good Magic got a little warm while galloping about 1 3/8 miles on a humid Tuesday morning, the colt’s first day over the Pimlico main track, as he continues preparation for Saturday’s $1.5 million Preakness Stakes and a rematch with Justify.

“He’s usually like that, but I think it’s his first day, I’m not concerned about it,” said Walter Malasquez, Good Magic’s exercise rider. “He was fine today.”

On Monday, Good Magic vanned from Belmont to Pimlico, arriving shortly before 11 a.m.

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On Tuesday, the Pimlico main track was sealed and muddy for training, owing to overnight rains. Good Magic came out at 8:45 a.m., about 15 minutes after the track re-opened following a renovation break.

Good Magic jogged the wrong way, or clockwise, and stopped at about the half-mile pole. Malasquez turned him around and broke off into a gallop midway on the far turn between the three-eighths and five-sixteenths pole.

Good Magic galloped at a slow, steady pace over the wet surface, staying even throughout before being pulled up midway around the clubhouse turn.

“He trained really well,” said Jose Hernandez, assistant to trainer Chad Brown. “He handled the track really well.””

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Malasquez said he was surprised that Good Magic’s energy level has remained high coming out of the Derby, where he was beaten 2 1/2 lengths by Justify over a sloppy track.

“I though his [energy] level was going to be a little down after the race but his level is the same,” Malasquez said. “I was surprised the horse came out of the race like that.”

Good Magic was the last of three Preakness horses to train on Tuesday. Bravazo and Sporting Chance, both trained by D. Wayne Lukas, each jogged one mile a little after 5:30 a.m. They arrived by van from Churchill Downs on Monday.