Prospect Watch: Good Magic’s brother debuts at Belmont
The first weekend of June is shaping up to be an important one as far as maiden special weights are concerned.
An impressive handful of well-bred 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds are slated to debut in competitive races at Belmont Park and Churchill Downs. Chief among them is a full brother to champion Good Magic.
Let’s dig through the entries and highlight five of the most noteworthy newcomers to know:
Thursday, June 2
Churchill Downs Race 4: Maiden Special Weight (six furlongs, 4:40 p.m. EDT)
No. 2 Midnight Escape
Age: 3
Pedigree: Speightstown–Enquete, by Indian Charlie
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Midnight Escape is getting off to a belated start, but the son of Speightstown is well worth following. A homebred racing for Wertheimer and Frere, Midnight Escape is a son of champion sprinter Speightstown (who sires 16 percent winners from first-time starters) out of Enquete, who placed second in the six-furlong Sandpiper.
This is a pedigree containing lots of speed, and Midnight Escape has displayed ample early foot in the mornings, even clocking a bullet half-mile from the Belmont Park starting gate in 47.8 seconds. Hot jockey Flavien Prat (a 26 percent winner at Belmont this spring) is named to ride, stamping Midnight Escape as a logical contender.
No. 3 For Good
Age: 3
Pedigree: Curlin–Glinda the Good, by Hard Spun
Purchase price: $800,000
Trainer: Chad Brown
Easily one of the most exciting horses slated to debut this week is For Good, a full-brother to 2017 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner and 2018 Kentucky Derby runner-up Good Magic.
Good Magic was conditioned by four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown, who likewise handles For Good. The $800,000 yearling acquisition has put together a lengthy work tab dotted with solid half-mile works, and hot jockey Irad Ortiz (a 30 percent winner this meet) is named to ride. Throw in the fact Brown has been on fire at Belmont this spring (going 24-for-55), and For Good is a logical choice to win on debut.
No. 6 Sidekick
Age: 3
Pedigree: Honor Code–Reunited, by Dixie Union
Purchase price: N/A
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey has conditioned many top-class horses through the years. One of the most recent Grade 1 winners to come through McGaughey’s barn is Code of Honor, winner of the Travers (G1) and Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) in 2019.
Perhaps Code of Honor’s half-brother Sidekick can become McGaughey’s latest Grade 1 star. The son of champion Honor Code has been training forwardly at Belmont Park, most recently firing off a bullet half-mile from the starting gate in 47.6 seconds. Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez has the mount, so look for Sidekick to show at least a little promise on Thursday, with quite possibly better to come down the road.
Churchill Downs Race 2: Maiden Special Weight (5 1/2 furlongs, 5:29 p.m.)
No. 1 Curly Jack
Age: 2
Pedigree: Good Magic–Connie and Michael, by Roman Ruler
Purchase price: $180,000
Trainer: Tom Amoss
On the same day Good Magic’s brother is debuting, one of Good Magic’s first foals is hitting the races. Curly Jack, produced by Mother Goose (G1) runner-up Connie and Michael, is set to debut for trainer Tom Amoss at Churchill Downs.
Amoss wins at a respectable 17 percent rate with first-time starters, and Curly Jack has shown serious speed in the mornings, producing back-to-back half-mile workouts from the Keeneland starting gate in 47.2 seconds apiece. As mentioned previously, Good Magic matured early enough to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, so all signs suggest Curly Jack can challenge in his first run under colors.
Friday, June 3
Churchill Downs Race 4: Maiden Special Weight (5 1/2 furlongs, 2:13 p.m.)
No. 7 Wonder Wheel
Age: 2
Pedigree: Into Mischief–Wonder Gal, by Tiz Wonderful
Purchase price: $275,000
Trainer: Mark Casse
Talk about a classy pedigree! Wonder Wheel is a daughter of three-time leading North American sire Into Mischief out of the Tiz Wonderful mare Wonder Gal, who placed second or third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, Frizette (G1), Acorn (G1), and Mother Goose (G1).
Into Mischief, Wonder Gal, and Tiz Wonderful all won stakes as juveniles, so Wonder Wheel is bred top and bottom to succeed from an early age. Wonder Wheel has posted quick morning workouts at Keeneland (including a bullet half-mile from the starting gate in 47.2 seconds), so dismiss this Mark Casse trainee at your own risk.
Enjoy the racing!