Last Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) is officially headed to Baltimore for the May 20 GI Preakness S. His connections made the announcement via Twitter Friday morning.
“Very excited, he's had a magnificent week of training,” said co-owner Ramiro Restrepo. “He's shown all the positive signs.”
The ownership group, which also includes OGMA Investments, Sterling Racing and CMNWLTH, confirmed the colt's participation in the second leg of the Triple Crown at Pimlico Race Course following his Friday morning training session in which he warmed up in the mile chute before galloping about a mile and five furlongs beneath his regular exercise rider J.J. Delgado.
“It still really hasn't sunk in that we won the Kentucky Derby,” co-owner/assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado, Jr. said Thursday evening. “It's been a surreal last few days. The most important thing is the horse looks great. He's kept his weight and relaxed when training.”
Others pressing on from the Derby include Confidence Game (Candy Ride {Arg}, 10th) and 'TDN Rising Star' Disarm (Gun Runner, fourth), while new shooters include Red Route One (Gun Runner) and GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. winner and 'TDN Rising Star' First Mission (Street Sense).
Mage is expected to train around 7:45 Saturday morning before vanning to Baltimore that afternoon.
It's official: #KyDerby winner @MageHorse will go to @PreaknessStakes @PimlicoRC. we just got word from owners @joincmnwlth's @ChaseChamberlin & @RamiroRestrepo at @ChurchillDowns. @ScottWykoffWBAL @espn680 @espnVshow @PaulMiles840 @NBCSports @tjwilkin @TVG @HorseRacingKK pic.twitter.com/CqSMIycT8V
— KyHBPA (@KyHBPA) May 12, 2023
In other Preakness-related news, National Treasure (Quality Road) worked a half-mile in :47.40 Friday morning at Santa Anita and will become trainer Bob Baffert's 25th Preakness starter next weekend. A victory in the race would be the eighth for the conditioner.
“This is a horse we've always been high on,” Baffert said. “He lost some training time ahead of the Santa Anita Derby, but he's been working well since. The Preakness distance shouldn't be a problem.”
A $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga graduate, National Treasure was third in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile and was most recently fourth to Practical Move (Practical Joke) in the GI Santa Anita Derby Apr. 8.
Also making the trip to Maryland for Baffert are Havnameltdown (Uncaptured) for the GIII Chick Lang S.; undefeated 'TDN Rising Star' Faiza (Girvin) for the GII Black-Eyed Susan S.; and Arabian Lion (Justify) for the Sir Barton S.
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