This year's GI Kentucky Derby winner, Mage (Good Magic–Puca, by Big Brown), will stand at stud at Airdrie Stud upon his retirement from racing, Airdrie announced Wednesday. The chestnut, who was bred in Kentucky by Grandview Equine, will continue to race for the ownership team of OGMA Investments, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing and Commonwealth Thoroughbreds. Currently being pointed for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, Mage has earned $2,507,450 to date in a career that includes runner-up efforts in the GI Haskell S. and GI Florida Derby as well as a third-place finish in the GI Preakness S.
Mage's dam, Puca, has been represented by black-type runners with each of her first three foals and a recent $1.2 million McKinzie colt at the recently concluded Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
“This is a very special day for Airdrie Stud,” said Airdrie President Bret Jones. “It gives us tremendous pride to be able to announce the addition of a Kentucky Derby winner to our stallion roster, especially one as uniquely qualified to be a leading sire as Mage. He is the first brilliant son of one of the most exciting young sires in recent memory and his dam is giving every indication that she will be a truly important mare.
“The talent and toughness required by Mage to break his maiden going seven furlongs in late January, give a seasoned champion like Forte all he can handle in the Florida Derby and then win the Kentucky Derby in just his fourth career start is, by anyone's definition, absolutely extraordinary. We will forever be grateful to his incredible ownership group for this opportunity and the syndicate we will assemble to support him will be the strongest in Airdrie's history. He deserves it.”
Added co-owner Ramiro Restrepo, “I can't tell you what Mage has meant to all of us that have been so incredibly blessed to be associated with him. He's the horse of a lifetime. An impossible talent. What he has done, and will continue to do, for our team has been the dream of dreams. We have endless respect for the incredible team at Airdrie Stud and will be proud to entrust them with his stallion career at the conclusion of his racing days. He is going to be very, very special for their farm-just as he has always been for us.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
