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Fans Run Through the Gates of Monmouth Park During Haskell Day
Stephen Edelson, @steveedelsonAPP

OCEANPORT – Good Magic has imposed itself as the best 3-year-old in training with a dominating victory Sunday in the Haskell Invitational betfair.com of 1 million in Monmouth Park in front of a crowd of 37,186.

Good Magic, the runner-up of the Kentucky Derby and the winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last year, took the lead of Long Roaming Union halfway on the far turn and crossed the house to a three-length victory over Bravazo. Lone Sailor, under the command of 13-time Monmouth Park champion Joe Bravo, was third at six lengths from Bravazo

. The final time was 1: 50.01 for 1/1/8 miles, 45 hundredths of a second. more than Name Changer's. time in the Monmouth Cup 1/1/8 mile four races before the Haskell.

The 3-year-old division, with Justify winner of the Triple Crown having been withdrawn last Wednesday, was looking for someone to take care of in the second half of the year and Good Magic, who n & # 39; 39, has never been worse than the fourth in eight career starts and first or second in six of those starts, may have done with Sunday's performance.

We were expecting a big performance, "said Good Magic coach Chad Brown, who had four winners on Sunday's card, including two wins, on NBC just after the race

Roaming Union, a 45-1 long shot drives the field of seven through fractions of 23.15 in the first quarter, 46.83 across the half mile and 1: 11.48 for six furlongs.

Good Magic, breaking with No. 6 post under jockey Jose Ortiz, got the trip that Brown was hoping for – a trip to the outside.

I thought the two horses (Navy Commander 47-1) had a little more speed, "said Ortiz. "But when the three horses (Roaming Union) cleared it, I said" ok. "I planned to be third while the three horses released the two horses that I said," ok, I'll take the second one. "When I asked him to go, he reacted very well."

However, honestly, Good Magic would probably have been able to connect this field if Brown and Ortiz had chosen this route.

was the polar opposite of the trip the son of two times Horse of the Year Curlin got into the Preakness in mud and fog at Pimlico on May 19.

In the Preakness, Good Magic, in breaking two stalls inside Justify, Dueled head-to-head with Justify while racing inside for the first mile of this 1 3/16-mile race.

Sunday, Good Magic was able to sit right next to a long shot without hope. He took the lead with a minimum of pressure, and the race was over, but for screaming at that moment. The good Mafgic was not really requested during the stretch.

"I felt great during the race," said Brown, who saddled his first Haskell winner. Jose put him in a good position, on the Monmouth Park simultaneously a few minutes after the race ..

"" It's very well broken, we put ourselves well and it s " "I'm really well rested," said Ortiz, "I ran, I pressed the button and he was there for me, it was a really easy trip, it made my life easier." [19659010] The layoff after the rugged Kentucky Derby races, where Good Magic continued the red pace and ran the kind of race that would have earned the Kentucky Derby for many years.The horse had lost weight after the Preakness, said Brown at the beginning of the week.

Good Magic had six training sessions at Belmont Park from June 16 to July 21 in preparation for the Haskell.

"I was excited to take him back to races, "said Brown." After the Preakness, he needed a little time to recover. We were patient with him, and the horse really responded.

"Each week, he became stronger, raised his weight, his last two works, in particular, were quite sharp, the horse was really showing today."

Ortiz said that he could notice looking good "To be honest with you, I never worked after the Preakness but I saw him every day, whenever I was going out in the same scenery to get another horse flying, "said Ortiz," I did not make him wince, but I could see him shine. "He worked incredibly.

" The five Last, six breezes, he was working incredibly. All the credit for Chad for having prepared for a huge race like the Haskell after a 10 week layoff. 110 percent. "

Bravazo, who finished third by saving ground on the last straight, took second place with a move of three at the top, but never seriously threatened Good Magic.

Good Magic will probably be the Travers favorite in Saratoga for $ 1.25 million on August 25.

Hofburg, Belmont Stakes third finalist, will be the leading contender for the Travers. from Curlin to Saratoga on Friday, Tenfold, third in the Preakness group, who won the Jim Dandy at Saratoga on Saturday, despite a bad dribble during the overtime period, filly Wonder Gadot, who won the first two rounds of Saratoga. Canadian Crown, Bravazo, Brown trained Gronkowski, Belmont's runner-up and Vino Rosso formed by Todd Pletcher, who was fourth at Belmont and third in the Jim Dandy.

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