Mage (Good Magic), runner-up to champion and likely GI Kentucky Derby favorite Forte (Violence) in the GI Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park Apr. 1, breezed six furlongs in an easy 1:14.78 in what is likely to be his final serious piece of work ahead of the Run for the Roses May 6.
“He worked good. We liked what we say. Everything is going to plan, thank God,” said Gustavo Delgado, Jr., assistant to his father Gustavo who trains the son of former 'TDN Rising Star' Puca (Big Brown) for an ownership group that includes OGMA Investments, LLC, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing LLC and CMNWLTH.
A $235,000 Keeneland September yearling and $290,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-old in training acquisition, Mage belied odds of 11-1 to graduate by an impressive 3 3/4 lengths in a seven-furlong maiden Jan. 28 and gave an excellent account of himself when fourth behind Forte in the GII Fountain of Youth S. Mar. 4. Mage hit the front in the final furlong of the Florida Derby after enduring a tough trip and clung on well for second, beaten a length. The chestnut, bred by Robert Clay's Grandview Equine, ships to Kentucky Apr. 23.
“We just want him to get to know the track. We don't expect to do very much there, fitness-wise,” Delgado, Jr. said. “He should be ready after this work. Every day is crucial. We'll take it day by day, but we like the position we're in right now.”
Work of the Day from @GulfstreamPark—Mage worked 6 Furlongs in 1:14.78 on April 22nd, 2023, for trainer @GDS_Racing. pic.twitter.com/yZXuVJmvU9
— XBTV (@WatchXBTV) April 22, 2023
At Santa Anita Saturday morning, trainer Tim Yakteen sent out GIII Sham S. winner Reincarnate (Good Magic) to work five-eighths of a mile. Breezing inside of his 5-year-old stablemate Westward Look (Vancouver {Aus}), the $775,000 Keeneland September graduate galloped under a strong hold after breaking off just inside the 5 1/2-furlong pole and pulled readily clear of his company from two furlongs out to stop the clock in 1:01 flat (22/43). He was asked to work past the wire and into the turn and was just urged along mildly to finish up nearing the six-furlong start.
Since winning the Sham in early January, Reincarnate cemented his Derby berth with third-place efforts–albeit accomplished in different fashion–in a sloppy renewal of the GII Rebel S. Feb. 25 and the GI Arkansas Derby Apr. 1.
Work of the Day from @santaanitapark—Reincarnate (Inside), 1:01.00, and Westward Look (Outside), 1:02.20, worked 5 Furlongs on April 22nd, 2023, for trainer @timyakteen. pic.twitter.com/7fT0yb6nKx
— XBTV (@WatchXBTV) April 22, 2023
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