Dornoch's Belmont Win Further Promotes Sire's Rise

Plenty of evidence existed indicating the mating of Good Magic  to Puca had a better-than-average chance of producing a successful racehorse. What this mating has now produced twice, however, has helped put Good Magic on a fast track to elite sire status.

After producing 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mage , the Good Magic—Puca cross has followed with impressive Belmont Stakes (G1) victor Dornoch . His win at Saratoga Race Course June 8 catapulted his sire up six places to No. 11 by progeny earnings on the BloodHorse leading general sires list.

Prior to Mage's Derby victory, the cross of Good Magic's sire, Curlin , with mares whose sires trace back to Danzig and his sons and grandsons had already produced five stakes winners, led by 2021 Florida Derby (G1) winner Known Agenda  and 2017 Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) winner Irish War Cry , who finished second in that year's Belmont Stakes.

Good Magic, out of the Hard Spun  (by Danzig) mare Glinda the Good, added further to the nick's credibility when he was named 2017 champion 2-year-old male after winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) and finishing second in the Kentucky Derby the next year. Good Magic retired with a 3-3-1 mark from nine starts and had almost $3 million in earnings.

He's stood at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa Farms near Paris, Ky., since 2019. This year his stud fee is $125,000. 

Each year he's proven to be a formidable sire, as he's been second among first-crop (2022), second-crop (2023), and third-crop (2024) sires.  

Blazing Sevens put him on the map in 2022, winning the Champagne Stakes (G1) in just his third start. The colt out of the Warrior's Reward mare Trophy Girl rarely misses the board, making him a consistent contributor to his sire's progeny earnings total. With his first crop on the track, Good Magic was 123rd in overall progeny earnings.

The next year, it was Mage who led the way with his Derby win and more than $2.5 million in purse money. The now-retired colt had top-three performances in the Florida Derby (G1), Preakness (G1), and Haskell (G1) stakes. Another son, Reincarnate, put together a strong 3-year-old campaign as well. He finished first in the Sham Stakes (G3) and third in the Rebel Stakes (G2) and Arkansas Derby (G1) before running 13th in the Kentucky Derby. All of that success saw Good Magic skyrocket to 21st overall with $9,507,048 in earnings.

Unlike Mage, Dornoch found early success at 2 when he landed a pair of firsts and seconds, capped by a win in the Remsen Stakes (G2). Meanwhile, across the country, Good Magic's California-based son Muth went 2-2-0 from four starts that included winning the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) and a second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). 

Now in 2024, Good Magic's offspring have already earned more than half of what they did a year ago ($5,624,629 as of June 17). Dornoch, in addition to the Belmont, won the Fountain of Youth (G2) and was fourth in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) before finishing 10th in the Kentucky Derby. Muth, who is working his way back after scratching out of the Preakness due to a fever, is undefeated as a 3-year-old with the Arkansas Derby and San Vicente Stakes (G2) already conquered. 

Society Man, whose career began less auspiciously than other Good Magic runners last year, finished second in the Wood Memorial and won the Matt Winn Stakes (G3). Add to that Reincarnate's third in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1), second in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G2), and fourth in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2).

As good as he's been, there are many reasons to believe that the best is yet to come for Good Magic. Not the least of which is the Good Magic—Puca, by Big Brown connection. The dam gave birth in April to a full sibling to the classic winners.