Mage Works in Lexington, Saratoga Plans Briefly Delayed
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Photo: Skip Dickstein
Mage is led to the winner's circle following his Kentucky Derby victory at Churchill Downs
Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mage recorded his third post-freshening breeze since returning to the work tab July 7 at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington. The 3-year-old son of Good Magic remained on course for a potential start in either the July 22 Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park or July 29 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course, working six furlongs in 1:13 4/5.
6f breeze 1:13.4 @MageHorse pic.twitter.com/XD3A8hotJT
— Ramiro A. Restrepo (@RamiroRestrepo) July 7, 2023
"He seems to have done it pretty easy, to be honest," said assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr., son of trainer Gustavo Delgado. "The gallop out was good and strong and J.J., his exercise rider, said he didn't want to pull up afterward so that's a good sign.
"We like what we see. We're just making sure he's feeling good after the (Triple Crown). We're taking it one day at a time but it's looking very good."
Digging eagerly into his hay net following the breeze, the colt appeared to have put on ample flesh and muscle since the rigors of the Triple Crown. Friday's drill follows a bullet five-furlong work in 1:00 3/5 last weekend at TTC.
While Mage was originally scheduled to ship to Saratoga this week, Delgado said the rash of storms transpiring in the Northeast has put their plans on hold for the short term while they monitor the weather.
Owned in partnership by OGMA Investments, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing, and CMNWLTH, Mage last finished third in the May 20 Preakness Stakes (G1). The Aug. 26 Travers Stakes (G1) remains the ultimate goal.