Kentucky Derby winner Mage will run in the 148th Preakness following a promising workout at Churchill Downs, the horse’s connections said.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Derby winner Mage will compete in the 148th Preakness following a promising workout at Churchill Downs, its co-owner said.
Mage galloped about 1.5 miles at a brisk pace with exercise rider T.J. Deme aboard on a cloudy but mild Friday morning at the track. Co-owner and bloodstock agent Ramiro Restrepo said the chestnut colt appeared to be “thriving” with good energy levels following his latest training session since winning the 149th Derby, paving the way for the horse to enter the Triple Crown’s second jewel at Pimlico in Baltimore.
“He’s had a brilliant week of training,” Restrepo said with co-owner Chase Chamberlin, co-founder and racing director of partner CMNWLTH. “(Trainer) Gustavo Delgado Jr. was just really pleased and over the moon with how he’s come back. He’s shown all the positive signs. So, it’s on to Baltimore and crab cakes, here we come.”
Mage is coming off a one-length victory over Keepmeinmind in the Derby at 15-1 odds after surging into contention entering the stretch. The son of American Pharoah and Puca, by 2008 Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown, earned his signature win after finishing second and third in the Florida Derby and Fountain of Youth, respectively. He didn’t race as a 2-year-old but won his debut at Gulfstream by nearly four lengths.
Mage will run in the 1 3/16th mile Preakness on May 15, just two weeks after covering 1.25 miles in the Derby in 2:01.57. Restrepo said the horse has been doing everything he did before the Derby, with his recovery being monitored following his longest trip.
He will train again on Saturday morning before being driven to Baltimore with another workout planned on Wednesday. Hall of Fame jockey Javier Espinoza, who won his first Derby in 16 tries, will again have the mount.
“We’ve been just monitoring that situation with all the love that he’s shown us on the racetrack,” Restrepo added. “We’re trying to bestow that upon him and give him the opportunity to show what’s up and everything that he did before the Derby.
“It’s continued beautifully, so that kind of consistency is worth a shot for the Preakness.”
