By Bill Finley
GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) has been ruled out of the GI Breeders' Cup Classic by trainer Gustavo Delgado.
Delgado made the announcement Sunday on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “We are sorry to announce that we have decided to cancel Mage's trip to California. He presented a feverish state this morning and we have noticed symptoms of loss of appetite. Given the proximity to the race, we feel that it is best for the horse to skip the Classic.”
Delgado wrote that prior to this setback, Mage had been doing well while preparing for the Breeders' Cup at the Thoroughbred Center in Lexington.
“We were very enthusiastic about the condition that the horse was going through, and despite how disappointed we feel right now, we are confident in a speedy recovery,” he wrote.
Mage will stand at Airdrie Stud upon his retirement, which will have to wait. In a separate Tweet, co-owner Ramiro Restrepo announced thet Mage will race next year as a 4-year-old.
“Mage had a slight temp and didn't eat up last night how he normally does,” he wrote. “Timing stinks, but lucky we caught it early. Can't run at below 100% ; horse comes first. Onwards to the Pegasus and his 4YO campaign.”
After winning the Derby, Mage finished third in the GI Preakness S. and second in the GI Haskell S. In his most recent start, he finished seventh, beaten 15 lengths in the GI Travers S.
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