Kentucky Derby 2018 trail: Good Magic takes Blue Grass

Facing an outside post position, a full field and his first test at 1 1/8 miles, champion Good Magic proved himself Saturday on the 2018 Kentucky Derby trail, winning the Grade 2, $1 million Blue Grass Stakes.

The son of Curlin rallied from fifth up the back stretch under jockey Jose Ortiz to strike at Keeneland and cement himself as a horse to watch moving on to the first Saturday in May.

“That was the plan — lay off the speed a little bit, and it worked great," Ortiz said.

Good Magic’s performance gave the colt his second career victory, and one that validated his reputation. The first win came in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and led to championship 2-year-old honors, but the horse still qualified for a first-level allowance race entering Saturday.

He changed that while dashing to nine furlongs in a final time of 1:50.18.

Flameaway, who set the early fractions, held on for second, while a rider’s objection led to key changes after that. Shades of his victory in last summer’s Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes, Sporting Chance moved out in deep stretch and impeded Free Drop Billy, who hit the wire fourth but was advanced to third by stewards.

Based on points it could be on to Churchill Downs for each of the Top 3 finishers. Free Drop Billy entered Saturday with 24 earned and added 20 more to his total, an amount that could end up near the cutoff line.

Good Magic's victory followed what appeared to be a flat third last month in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park. It was his first race in fourth months, and the colt, who's campaigned by e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Stonestreet Farm, entered a tad short on fitness due to an offseason foot issue.

“If you want to stay on the Derby trail, you have to run when the time’s ready to get started," said trainer Chad Brown. "I’ll tell you, this horse came out of the race real well. Better, stronger for it, and came back with some really impressive workouts since, so we were pretty confident coming in here.”

Now, Good Magic will head to the Kentucky Derby one of the May 5 race's top contenders.

The Blue Grass ran over a fast track in Lexington, Ky., despite predicted heavy snow earlier this week. The powder burnt off for the most part before Saturday’s race card began, with the track upgraded in the afternoon.

Quip, a 6-1 morning line choice, scratched with connections preferring to go in next weekend’s Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, allowing Determinant to draw in and breaking from the outside post in a field of 14.