Sole KY Derby Starter Mage Draws Post 3 in Preakness

After racing in the shadows of Forte  throughout the prep races, Mage  made the most of the opportunity presented to him when the 2-year-old champion was scratched on the morning of the Kentucky Derby (G1). 

Rallying from 16th under jockey Javier Castellano, Mage posted a 15-1 upset in the opening leg of the Triple Crown for trainer Gustavo Delgado and the ownership group of OGMA Investments, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing, and CMNWLTH. 

Now, Mage will be the one in the spotlight May 20 when he heads a field of eight 3-year-olds in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and seeks to continue his quest to become the sport's 14th Triple Crown winner.

The son of Good Magic   bred in Kentucky by Grandview Equine landed post 3 May 15 at the draw for the 148th Preakness at Pimlico Race Course and was established as a heavy 8-5 favorite in the morning line.

"Just because of the fact that he has only four starts, and usually (horses) tend to get better with races, especially after the third, fourth (starts), I think he has good momentum," said Gustavo Delgado Jr., the trainer's son and assistant. "That gives us confidence. But every day is crucial."

Mage will be the only Preakness starter who raced in the Kentucky Derby after the decision by Winchell Thoroughbreds and trainer Steve Asmussen to point Disarm  toward the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) and Travers Stakes (G1).

Trainers Bob Baffert, Brad Cox, and Chad Brown will each send out newcomers to the Triple Crown chase.

In National Treasure , Baffert, the all-time leader in Triple Crown wins with 16, will be sending out his first starter in the series since Medina Spirit  in the 2021 Preakness. It was Medina Spirit who failed a post-race drug test after his victory in the Kentucky Derby that led to suspensions that prevented the Hall of Famer from competing in the series until now. 

Baffert has a record-matching seven Preakness wins.

National Treasure, a son of Quality Road  , is coming off a fourth in the Santa Anita Derby (G1). He drew the rail for the Preakness and is the third choice in the morning line at 4-1. He is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan.

Cox, who had four starters in the Kentucky Derby, will be represented by Godolphin's First Mission , winner of the Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland in his last start.

"We're in a good spot. He's had a couple of solid, solid works the last few weeks. He's going to have to step up and run a solid race next week. If he does, I think he'll be in the mix. He's a good colt. We think a lot of him, and we'll see what happens," Cox said about the homebred son of Street Sense  .

Brown will try for a third Preakness win with Rodeo Creek Racing's Blazing Sevens . The grade 1 winner at 2 will be following the same path as Brown's two Preakness winners (Cloud Computing   in 2017 and Early Voting   in 2022) as he skipped the Run for the Roses and will run in the Preakness on six weeks' rest.

"We had a few things working against us in the Derby but I don't see many things going against us in the Preakness," Brown said about the son of Good Magic.

The entire field, from the rail out:

1. National Treasure (4-1)

2. Chase the Chaos  (50-1)

3. Mage (8-5)

4. Coffeewithchris  (20-1)

5. Red Route One  (10-1)

6. Perform  (15-1)

7. Blazing Sevens (6-1)

8. First Mission (5-2)

This story will be updated.