Good Magic Returns to Winning ways to Capture $1 Million Haskell Invitational By Lou Monaco

OCEANPORT -- No tricks, no gimmicks, no surprises… just Good Magic.

The 2-year-old Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champion and Kentucky Derby runner-up returned to his winning ways, showing his dominance as the 1-2 favorite over six others in a three-length victory over second-choice Bravazo to take home the $1 million betfair.com Haskell Invitational on a chamber of commerce day at Monmouth Park in Oceanport.

Owned by e Five Thoroughbreds and Stonestreet Stables, Good Magic increased his good fortune to a career-earnings mark of $2,945,000 and improved his record to 3-3-1 in eight career starts, with a fourth-place showing in the Preakness (the last time he rode), his only non-top three finish.

 

For his efforts, the son of Curlin-Glinda the Good earned an automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 3 as part of the “Win and You’re In” program.

Sitting a stalking second for the first six furlongs of the race, Jose Ortiz had Good Magic in a prime position as they made the final turn in the 1 1/8 mile race.

“When I asked him to run I pushed the button and he was there for me,” said Ortiz. “It was a really easy trip. He made it easy for me. All the credit to Chad (Brown) for having him ready to come into a huge race like the Haskell off a 10-week layoff. He had him ready, 110 percent ready to go.”

Then abracadabra… Good Magic took the lead at the top of the stretch to the roar of the 37,186 in attendance and cruised to the finish line in 1:50.01 for the New York combo of jockey Ortiz and trainer Chad Brown, who each posted four wins on the day on the 14-race card, highlighted by their first Haskell win for each.

“I am so proud of this horse. He put everything together today. He showed his ability, his agility and his class today. It’s not easy to win these races,” said Brown, the two-time defending Eclipse Award-winning trainer. “Winning the Haskell here means a lot. To finally win this race is special. I got my start here. I took my trainer’s test here the day after the Breeders’ Cup in 2007. I came back a year later and had horses here. Last year we ran two horses in the (Haskell) and one was the favorite (Timeline) and didn’t win, so it means a lot. You have to come with the right horse and this is a really good horse.”

Good Magic returned $3.00 to win, with the Bravazo exacta returning $9.40. Lone Sailor, with Monmouth Park favorite Joe Bravo aboard, finished third. 

The stakes-filled program saw a total handle of $13,395,279, an increase of five percent over 2017. On-track handle for the day was $1,965,660. Attendance also showed a five percent increase over Haskell Day a year ago. 

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