Mage to Miss Breeders' Cup Classic

Trainer Gustavo Delgado Sr. announced on X (formerly known as Twitter) Oct. 29 that Kentucky Derby (G1) hero Mage  will not be making the trip to California to contest the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 4 after showing symptoms of a fever this morning at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington.

Ramiro Restrepo, who owns Mage in partnership with OGMA Investments, Sterling Racing, and CMNWLTH, additionally wrote on X that Mage was "running a slight fever and didn't eat up last night as he usually does."

For immediate release. pic.twitter.com/howLzjMyXZ

— Gustavo Delgado S (@GDS_Racing) October 29, 2023

The 3-year-old son of Good Magic   had a career-making year after picking up a close second in the April 1 Florida Derby (G1), behind champion Forte   by one length, en route to his heroic Derby (G1) effort May 6. The chestnut traveled to Pimlico to contest the second jewel of the Triple Crown only to find some traffic behind winner, National Treasure , and second-place finisher Blazing Sevens .

After a short break, he came back swinging in the Haskell Stakes (G1) to finish second, by one 3/4-lengths to Pin Oak Stud's Geaux Rocket Ride . He has been unraced since finishing last of seven in the Aug. 26 Travers (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.

Mage had been training up to the Classic, recording four workouts over the past month at The Thoroughbred Center, including a five-furlong breeze in 1:02 1/5 last Sunday.

Restrepo indicated that the Jan. 27 Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream Park would be a likely target for Mage's 4-year-old campaign.