By Mike Kane
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N. Y.–Ferocious's (Flatter) blowout victory in the sixth race at Saratoga Race Course Saturday produced a series of backward and forward moments in the winner's enclosure.
Ramiro Restrepo and Gustavo Delgado, Jr., principals in Mage's (Good Magic) rise to prominence and victory in the 2023 GI Kentucky Derby, held court following the $100,000 2-year-old maiden special weight race that might be the first big step for another standout.
Restrepo and Delgado spearheaded the purchase of Ferocious for $1,300,000 at the OBS March sale and they were appropriately excited about the way he launched his career. Despite breaking a tad slow from the rail, eighth of nine, he quickly put himself into the race, grabbed the lead at the top of the stretch and cruised to a 7 3/4-lengths score under Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano. They completed the six furlongs over the muddy sealed track in 1:09.65 and paid $8.90 as the 3-1 favorite. El Prestigio (Practical Joke), the early pacesetter, was second, a nose ahead of Praetor (Into Mischief).
Delgado, who trains the colt with his father, said his agility enabled Ferocious to overcome the tardy start.
“I don't think you can ask for a better debut,” he said.
Gentry Stable bred the colt and Restrepo and Delgado Jr. put together the partnership with JR Ranch, owned by Jose Aguirre; Restrepo's Marquee Bloodstock; High Step Racing and the Delgado's OGMA Investments. JR is the majority owner.
Restrepo said that Ferocious, out of the Midnight Lute mare Napier, could not be ignored.
“It's very difficult to find a horse with four generations of Juddmonte breeding like that at a 2-year-old sale. Usually, you find those things gone at the yearling sales,” he said and named some of colt's assets: “Physically so mature. His attitude. His attitude at the sale, like an older horse.”
Ferocious's fourth dam, Nijinsky Star (Nijinsky) was purchased by Juddmonte and joined the broodmare band, establishing a female family line that led to third dam Willstar (Nureyev) and second dam Uno Duo (Macho Uno).
Then it was Delgado's turn.
“I think the credit goes to JR Ranch,” he said. “When we were trying to buy him, he wouldn't stop. That's what you need in those cases, some guy that has got that to carry on, in the bidding. That was good for us.”
“Then since the horse is in the barn, so nice to be around. He's very chill. Any rider can ride, that kind of thing. We were pretty confident, though. I have to be honest.”
Ferocious had some experience on wet conditions in training and Restrepo noted that when Gustavo Delgado Sr. saw the weather forecast a couple of days ago, “He goes, 'Don't worry about it, he's a duck.'”
In May 2022, Restrepo and Delgado Jr. were so impressed with the 2-year-old Mage at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale that they went to $290,000, well beyond their budget, to buy the colt. Then they scrambled to find investors for what turned into a very successful venture. The 4-year-old stands at Airdrie Stud.
“Mage is the gift that keeps on giving for us,” Restrepo said. “Its let myself go out and purchase horses that I could only dream of. Before it was just fantasy football.”
With the credibility and the resources that a Derby win and the sale of a stallion can produce, they have been busy.
“You know, Gustavo and his father are more than capable of, from the test into the Derby, to have a barn for these horses, and they're deserving of the opportunity as well,” Restrepo said. “We have 20-plus really nice 2-year-olds at the barn. Mage took us on this incredible ride, has given us a ton of experience to kind of be present in the moment. Now, hopefully, Ferocious takes the torch.”
Said Delgado Jr.: “Because of him, we have this one.”
Restrepo called Ferocious “a total package” and said he behaved like a seasoned pro at the sale.
“He was taken out 100-plus times and always acted mature and confident and never lost any weight; actually toughened up at the sale, put up some good size,” Restrepo said. “When you see a horse thriving in those environments, mentally, you start saying to yourself up, 'maybe he can handle the big stage.' Today was Step One. Episode One. Chapter One. Page One. It's a cool start, right?”
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