Last year's champion 2-year-old Good Magic (Curlin–Glinda the Good, by Hard Spun) has been retired and will join his sire at Hill 'n' Dale Farm. He will stand the 2019 season for a fee of $35,000.
“Good Magic is a fantastic addition to our stallion roster,” said John Sikura, president of Hill 'n' Dale. “It is rare indeed for a champion 2-year-old to retain his Grade I form at three, which was witnessed by Good Magic's narrow defeat by super horse Justify in the GI Kentucky Derby. We sold Good Magic for breeder Stonestreet for $1 million as a yearling and he was a beautiful horse. I remember him as medium sized, a great mover and completely correct. Valiant, supremely talented and by Curlin–breeders will love him.”
Good Magic, a $1-million Keeneland September yearling, capped his championship season in 2017 with a win in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile for owners e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Stonestreet Stables and trainer Chad Brown.
After a third-place finish while making his sophomore debut in the Mar. 3 GII Fountain of Youth S., he tuned up for the GI Kentucky Derby with a victory in the Apr. 7 GII Toyota Blue Grass S. Second behind Justify in the Derby, he battled the Triple Crown winner in the GI Preakness S. before grudgingly settling for fourth on a muddy day at Pimlico. Good Magic rebounded with a dominant victory in the July 29 GI Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park.
On the board in seven of nine starts, Good Magic won three times and earned $2,945,000.
“Good Magic showed incredible talent and durability as I put him through the most demanding campaign of any horse I've ever trained,” Brown said. “He's an extremely rare colt and should make a top stallion.”
E Five Racing's Bob Edwards added, “It is a bittersweet day. Good Magic had a tremendous effect on my family, friends, our racing connections and his fans. His heart and determination were second to none. Good Magic was a consummate professional throughout his racing career. My family and I look forward to seeing his offspring race at the highest level.”
Barbara Banke's Stonestreet bred and co-owned the champion.
“Good Magic is the embodiment of the breeding philosophy we have at Stonestreet,” Banke said. “We are proud to stand a champion son of our two-time Horse of the Year Curlin.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
