Reincarnate, Mage Could Add Classic to Good Magic's CV

Having two progeny starters in the Kentucky Derby (G1) from Good Magic  's first crop is an indication of promising things on the horizon for the Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa stallion. The son of Curlin   is currently ranked second on the leading second-crop sire Northern Hemisphere rankings. His chief earner, Sham Stakes (G3) victor Reincarnate  and grade 1 stakes-placed Mage , a copycat to his precocious father, will be looking to add royals to the family pedigree on May 6.

Early on, Reincarnate, a gray/roan colt out of stakes winner Allanah , was a remarkable gem, selling for his breeder Woods Edge Farm as a yearling during the 2021 Keeneland September Sale to astute agent Donato Lanni for $775,000. While he wasn't the typical purchase for the partnership group of SF Bloodstock, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables, coming from an unproven sire, the colt's physical made him a must-buy.

"He was a horse that everybody was on the same page—as far as myself, Tom Ryan, Gavin Murphy, Bob Baffert, and John Moynihan," Lanni recalled. "All five of us agreed he was a horse not to pass on; he had a great physical and everything we wanted to put in our portfolio of 2-year-old colts."

Similar to his sire, the colt debuted at 2, but not on the typical dirt surface; Baffert sent the colt out for a spin on the Del Mar turf at a mile, followed by a turn on the Santa Anita Park turf, both times finishing an encouraging second. In his third start and thereafter, he switched to the dirt.

"He's progressed and changed so much from 2 to 3; he's become a stronger version of himself—from when he was a yearling," said Lanni. "You like to see that progression and maturity over time, for them to keep changing."

A meaningful name, one that conjures up memories of heroic feats, can never hurt, and that is, in fact, what Reincarnate does for owner Gavin Murphy of SF Racing—the 3-year-old races in partnership with Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, and Robert Masterson.

"The reason we named him Reincarnate was that Gavin's favorite horse when he came to America was Holy Bull, and this horse has Holy Bull in the pedigree, also happens to be gray, and he reminded Gavin of Holy Bull," Lanni said.

Lanni added: "It's nice to see him (hopefully) get in the gate on the first Saturday in May, he's gotten us this far, and I have a good feeling about him."

Switched to trainer Tim Yakteen's barn for his past two starts this year, third-place efforts in the Rebel Stakes (G2) and Arkansas Derby (G1), the colt will break Saturday from gate 7 with John Velazquez guiding him over the mile-and-a-quarter test.

"I only have one son of Good Magic in my barn, but I wouldn't mind having more. Reincarnate is a very straightforward horse in the morning; it makes my job easy," said Yakteen. "He's a good-looking, smart individual, very correct—those are the takeaways on Reincarnate."

The horse has continued to prove his staying power, showing another dimension and improving his tactical speed with each start which will see him to the wire on Saturday.

"His ideal trip will see him forwardly placed and continue to utilize his high cruising speed. Three-year-olds running in the Derby need a high cruising speed that can be carried to 10 furlongs," commented Yakteen. "Most of our horses, bred in North America, aren't designed to go a mile and a quarter. Ideally, I look for him to be up near the pace and keep going."

Yakteen added: "With maintaining a high cruising speed, you will continue to carry that momentum further, whereas other horses may limit out in their distance limitations. Is a mile and a quarter going to be Reincarnate's optimal distance? We will find out, but he definitely gives me the confidence going in being a horse that has it well within himself and his scope to get a mile and a quarter."

While lightly raced, Mage comes into the most exciting two minutes of racing with a debut win, followed by a fourth-best finish in the stacked Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and a runner-up finish to champion Forte  in the Florida Derby (G1) of this year.

Purchased as a $235,000 yearling pinhook prospect by Becky Thomas, long-time partner Lewis Lakin, and Joey Platt during the September Sale, the successful partnership turned the colt around the following year during the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, where he sold for $290,000 to Marquee Bloodstock for OGMA Investments.

"We loved him; we are big Good Magic fans," Thomas explained. "We were delighted that Ramiro (Restrepo) bought him. He was very fast, had a :10 flat work, we always liked him, and he was always on auto-pilot. A speedy, smart horse, we couldn't be more delighted with him. You always want your pinhooking horses to do well, even when financially it's not the biggest win."

A self-proclaimed John Sikura disciple, Thomas and her team were rooting hard during the Florida Derby for both of the Hill 'n' Dale-sired runners, Forte, the son of Violence  , and the fast-closing Good Magic pinhook.

"They are good-minded; the Curlins have been solid for me," Thomas said. "I haven't had one that is obnoxious. I had two Good Magic's last year; both were excellent movers and always waiting for more."

Breaking next to Reincarnate in slot eight will be the chestnut colt, which is campaigned by OGMA Investments, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing, and Commonwealth. Javier Castellano will be back in the tack, having ridden the colt in the Fountain of Youth in March.

Assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr. recalled memories of Good Magic winning the 2017 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) when he went searching for a new runner during the Timonium, Md. sale.

"Last year, when Ramiro and I went to the 2-year-old sale, we were looking for a Good Magic colt or filly," said Delgado. "I remember watching Mage breeze; his face, body; everything looked like his daddy. When you put the pictures together, they look a lot alike.

"He had a fast breeze at the sale, and we decided to go after him, and we were lucky we got him because he was a nice horse and had great behavior mentally."

The colt's workmanlike attitude has given the Delgados' assurance headed into the big day, and while it's just one race on the colt's resume, they are looking forward to having a progressive horse for the future.

"He comes out every day and deals so well with the crowd; he's a true professional. He's a chill and relaxed horse on the track, especially. In the barn, he can be different, but they all have personalities," Delgado commented. "He's the kind of horse on the track that will do whatever the rider wants. We love that about him.

"It's been a blessing to have a horse like Mage to train so far. We don't know what will happen next, but he has shown some talent, and we think the best is yet to come from this horse. We are fingers crossed and hope to have a nice horse in a few days or later during the season."