Gustavo Delgado

Preakness Preview: Mage Evolves From Underdog To Target

Onward to Baltimore! Here are the GI Preakness S. entrants listed in "likeliest winner" order. 1) Mage GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage won't be a heavy favorite on Saturday. In fact, he projects as the possible second choice in the betting based on the "fresh competition" angle in a Preakness that will feature no other starters who ran in the 18-horse Derby. Pari-mutuel value notwithstanding, a Preakness victory is within the grasp of this white-blazed, chestnut son of Good Magic ($235,000 KEESEP; $290,000 EASMAY). He's a lighter-framed colt who might...

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The Week in Review: Betting on Good Karma to Overcome Bad Headlines

Next week at this time, we'll know if the sport is on the cusp of another Triple Crown sweep. Of all the potential excuses for GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) not emerging victorious from the GI Preakness S., intense media pressure is unlikely to be one of them. You could make the argument that the diminutive, white-blazed chestnut with the endearing overbite has enjoyed one of the least-scrutinized post-Derby weeks of any winner in recent history. That's not so much because the spotlight on his accomplishment has dimmed....

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Mage Rounds Out Training at Churchill, Departs for Pimlico

Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) posted his final training move at Churchill Downs Saturday morning prior to shipping to Baltimore for next weekend's GI Preakness S. While the task was ultimately completed safely, the move didn't quite go off without a hitch. Rider J.J. Delgado was forced to pause his training to fix a back bandage that came loose after the first half-mile, however, the colt ultimately galloped about 1 1/2 miles. Following the minor mishap, the Derby winner continued on his way around the racetrack before he returned...

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A Derby-Winning Duo: The Father and Son Team Behind Mage

When Gustavo Delgado Jr. was a young boy, his father would drag him out of bed early every morning to go to the racetrack. Growing up in a household that also included his mother, two sisters and a female cousin, Delgado eventually came to look forward to those trackside adventures spending quality time with his father Gustavo Delgado Sr., a member of the Caribbean Racing Hall of Fame as a three-time winner of Venezuela's equivalent of the Triple Crown. As a teenager, Delgado Jr. relished the celebrity-like status that came...

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Ramiro Restrepo Joins The TDN Writers' Room

Ramiro Restrepo has done a little bit of everything in the racing industry and now he has something else to add to his resume, GI Kentucky Derby winning owner. Restrepo is one of the owners of Mage (Good Magic), the winner of the 149th Derby. To share his thoughts on the race and what it meant to him, Restrepo joined this week's TDN Writers' Room podcast, presented by Keeneland. He was this week's Green Group Guest of the Week. "I still can't sleep," said an emotional Restrepo. "I keep watching...

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Kentucky Derby Winner Mage Among Those Pointing Towards Preakness

Gustavo Delgado Jr., son of and assistant to trainer Gustavo Delgado, said GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) has shown all the right signs following his victory in Saturday's race and will run in the GI Preakness S. May 20 as long as everything continues to go well. The colt is expected to jog around the racetrack Tuesday morning. "He ate up everything, his feed, he's feeling good," Delgado Jr. said. Forte (Violence), the scratched morning-line favorite from the Derby, galloped at Churchill Downs Monday morning in an apparent...

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Mage Team Enjoying Derby Win, Eyeing Preakness

The team behind GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) was still savoring the colt's Classic victory on a rainy Sunday morning in Louisville, while taking a wait-and-see approach about a potential start in the May 20 GI Preakness S. "The horse is looking very good. I checked with the vet, and he's fine," trainer Gustavo Delgado, Sr. said. "Winning the Kentucky Derby is different than winning the Triple Crown and Simon Bolivar in Venezuela. It's the same but different. It was a very happy experience to win the Kentucky...

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Kentucky Derby Magic! Mage Wins Derby 149

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Abracadabra: Mage (Good Magic) is your 149th winner of the GI Kentucky Derby. The lightly raced GI Curlin Florida Derby runner-up, off at odds of 15-1, took advantage of a torrid early pace and rallied from as far back as 16th to reel in a very game Two Phil's (Hard Spun) by a length. Lukewarm 4-1 favorite Angel of Empire (Classic Empire) also came flying from far back to finish another half-length back in third. 'TDN Rising Star' Disarm (Gun Runner) rounded out the superfecta in fourth....

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Mage, Reincarnate Top Quiet Day on the Derby Worktab

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...

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Good Magic's Mage Opens His Account On Pegasus Undercard

2nd-Gulfstream, $70,000, Msw, 1-28, 3yo, 7f, 1:22.54, ft, 3 3/4 lengths. MAGE (c, 3, Good Magic--Puca {SW & GSP, $299,406}, by Big Brown), dismissed by the betting public at 11-1 in his debut start despite selling for $290,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale, avoided trouble with a forward ride out of the gate, setting the early pace from just off the rail. Positioned inside of pressure from Perform (Good Magic) through the half-mile in :45.88, Mage hit his best stride past the quarter pole and drew off nicely down...

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Florida Derby on Tap for Simplification

Tami Bobo's Simplification (Not This Time) came out of his victory in Saturday's GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. in fine shape and will now be aimed at the Apr. 2 GI Curlin Florida Derby. "Yesterday, good break, a little problem in traffic, and when the jockey took him outside, the horse ran well," trainer Antonio Sano said Sunday morning. "I am proud of my horse. I'm happy for all the support the people give to me. I'm happy for another chance to win the GI Kentucky Derby." Simplification earned...

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Bodexpress Retired

Fan favorite Bodexpress (Bodemeister--Pied a Terre, by City Zip), recent winner of the GI Clark H. at Churchill Downs Nov. 27, has been retired after suffering an undisclosed, career-ending injury in the race, according to a tweet late Sunday from trainer and part-owner Gustavo Delgado. "With great regret, we announce the retirement of Bodexpress," the tweet read. "He suffered a career-ending injury while winning the G1 Clark Handicap. A very talented colt, who finally showed his potential at CD. Thank you Bode for the journey & memories. To his fans,...

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