Gray Magician Set for Kentucky Derby Trip After Work
Image:
Description:
Photo: Michelle Storm
Gray Magician works under Drayden Van Dyke at San Luis Rey Downs
Gray Magician got the green light April 27 to head to Kentucky after breezing five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 at San Luis Rey Training Center in preparation for the May 4 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).
Racing for Wachtel Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Gary Barber, the 3-year-old son of Graydar put in a runner-up finish March 30 in the UAE Derby Sponsored By Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (G2) at Meydan to qualify for the Run for the Roses.
With trainer Peter Miller and Eclipse president Aron Wellman on hand for Gray Magician's breeze Saturday morning, the colt put in a satisfactory move and galloped out to six furlongs in 1:12 and change under Drayden Van Dyke, who has the mount for the Kentucky Derby.
"He worked super and came home really well," Miller said. "I couldn't be happier with how he did it. He came home (his final quarter-mile) in :23 1/5, and that was very good. He galloped out another eighth (to six furlongs) in 1:12 2/5. This is a fast race track here, but it was the way he did it.
"The horse really did it on his own," Miller continued. "(Drayden) just shook the reins at him once, and he opened up on his workmate. He started out about three lengths behind him and finished about 12 lengths ahead. As long as he comes out of the work well tomorrow, he will ship on Monday."
Gray Magician will be the fourth runner in Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' eight-year existence to enter the most coveted race on the planet.
Danza was third in 2014, and Destin (2016) and Tapwrit (2017) both finished sixth. Destin followed up his effort to be second—a nose behind Creator—in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1), and Tapwrit conquered the Test of the Champion carrying Eclipse's baby blue and black silks.
Bred in Kentucky by Twin Creeks Farm out of the Johannesburg mare Burg Berg, Gray Magician was a private purchase after he failed to meet his reserve for $18,000 when consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency to The July Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale.