Derby Optimism Turns Into Travers Confidence for Mage

Nearly four months ago, there was a wide array of emotions for the connections of Mage  at the Kentucky Derby (G1). 

There was some eager anticipation that turned into heightened optimism after the race day scratch of morning-line favorite, Forte .

That led to the crowning sensation of a wild, emotional ride. The euphoria of standing in the winner's circle after Mage posted a 15-1 upset in America's most famous horse race.

"The Kentucky Derby changed our life," said trainer Gustavo Delgado.

Now comes a different Derby. The 3-year-old son of Good Magic   will be running Aug. 26 in the $1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1) on the revered racetrack at Saratoga Race Course, a race commonly known as the Midsummer Derby.

This time, for the ownership group of Delgado's OGMA Investments, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing, and CMNWLTH there's confidence mixed with the incomparable thrill of what life has been like with the winner of the opening leg of the Triple Crown.

"With each race the experience gets better and better," said Delgado, who sent out Caracaro to a second-place finish in the 2020 Travers. "He has brought us so much joy and Mage is ready for his best race Saturday."

For Restrepo, the bloodstock agent who spotted Mage at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale and organized the ownership group, after solid efforts in which the Run for the Roses winner was third in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and second in the Haskell Stakes (G1), the upcoming showdown in the Travers is the whipped cream and cherry on top of an experience he never could have envisioned.

"This is something we have looked forward to since the Preakness and I think everyone in the industry is also looking forward to it. A race like this creates some cool vibes with every big horse in it" Restrepo said. "As a kid I saw races like this and wanted to be a part of them. This race will be a super treat to see and from my perspective it's awesome to have a horse in it. This is why we do what we do. If I could walk out of the track Saturday with the roses on one shoulder and the canoe on the other, that would be a fabulous dream to script."

One difference between the days leading up to the first Saturday in May and the last Saturday in August is that the Mage camp wondered if they could beat Forte, after finishing second to him in the Florida Derby (G1) and fourth in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2). For Saturday's test, there confidence as a pair of more physically mature and accomplished winter-time rivals will meet in a blockbuster matchup with five other foes-including the winners of the other two Triple Crown races-that figures to crown the champion 3-year-old male.

"We are looking forward to facing Forte again. Our horse has gotten better and stronger since the last time (the April 1 Florida Derby) but everybody will be bringing their 'A' game," assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr. said. "We'll see what happens, but it's such a big thrill just to a have a horse in a race like this."