This is the first in a three-part series examining Secretariat’s influence on the Thoroughbred bloodstock industry as we mark the 50-year anniversary of his historic Triple Crown triumphs. This week, learn about Big Red’s record pre-Kentucky Derby syndication and how he flew the flag for his home state of Virginia.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Champion Good Magic, who came up just shy in his appearance in the Kentucky Derby, is making a magical Derby debut as a sire.
Good Magic, who stands at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Paris, Ky., has a pair of runners in the Derby from his first crop in Florida Derby runner-up Mage and graded stakes winner Reincarnate.
Good Magic stands alongside his sire, Curlin, a prominent classic sire who will himself have two runners in Lord Miles and Skinner. Curlin’s son Keen Ice sired last year’s upset Derby winner, Rich Strike.
The dark bay foal’s white markings were distinctive, so much so that he was nicknamed “Gaudy” by the farm staff. But his personality didn’t match the moniker at first.
“He was somewhat shy when he was with his mother,” breeder Amy Moore recalled of the youngster at her South Gate Farm in Virginia. “He’d hide behind her in the stall.”
But now? Forte has come into his own.
“He’s gained his confidence,” trainer Todd Pletcher said of Forte, the Kentucky Derby favorite. “He’s proud of himself, as he should be.”
Four-time reigning leading sire Into Mischief and perennially successful stallion Speightstown both factored prominently as the under-tack preview show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s spring sale of 2-year-olds in training concluded.
Stalwart sire Medaglia d’Oro will try to move into the Kentucky Oaks record books when his daughter Botanical brings a stakes win streak at Turfway Park into in the 149th edition of the filly classic on May 5 at Churchill Downs.
