Good Magic Dominates Haskell Easily

by Fairway Jay

The $1 million Haskell Invitational was the featured event on a historic Haskell Day, and the headliner left no doubt who was best. Good Magic went off as the prohibitive 1-2 favorite in the 7-horse field and dismantled the competition with ease striding down the stretch and winning handily by three lengths.

The victory for Good Magic earned him an automatic entry and fees-paid berth into the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs. The Haskell Invitational was part of the “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series which awards winners of selected races automatic entry into Breeders’ Cup races.

Good Magic settled comfortably early to stalk the long shot pacesetter Roaming Union through fractions of :23.15, :46.83 and 1:11.48 for six furlongs before taking control around the far turn nearing the quarter pole. Good Magic responded to jockey Jose Ortiz when asked heading for home, opening up a four length lead and kicking clear under urging to win by three lengths.

The final 1 1/8 mile time was 1:50.01 and Good Magic returned $3.00 on a $2 win wager. Bravazo ($4.00) finished a clear 2^nd, six lengths in front of Lone Sailor ($2.60).

“The horse was training great, and Jose gave him and excellent trip and everything worked out great,” trainer Chad Brown told NBC immediately following the race.

Good Magic now sports a record of 3-3-1 in eight starts with more than $2.9 million in earnings after picking up the $600,000 first place prize in the Haskell.

The horse bets were only part of the big day of racing at Monmouth Park, where sports betting has become the big draw with New Jersey’s arrival into legal sports betting. More than 37,000 fans turned out for Haskell Day Sunday at Monmouth Park.

Jockey Jose Ortiz will go head to head with his brother Irad Ortiz, Jr. in their next big race at the $1.25 million Travers Stakes when Irad rides Hofburg, who won the $100,000 Curlin Stakes by five lengths Friday at Saratoga and finished 3^rdin the Belmont Stakes. Tenfold, who won the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga Saturday, will also run in the Travers. Other likely contenders include Vino Rosso, 4^thin the Belmont and 3^rdin the Jim Dandy, Chad Brown-trained Gronkowski, who was 2^ndin the Belmont Stakes and super filly Wonder Gadot, who has won the first two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown.

Good Magic will be the favorite again in the Travers, which is August 25 at Saratoga. A victory there would put him in charge for 3-year-old division honors with Triple Crown winner Justify retiring last week. Following the Travers, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Champion Good Magic can really make his case when he returns to Churchill Downs for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.