Gustavo Delgado Jr., son of and assistant to trainer Gustavo Delgado, said Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mage has shown all the right signs following his thrilling victory in last Saturday’s first leg of the Triple Crown and will run in the 148th Preakness Stakes (G1) at historic Pimlico Race Course in Maryland on May 20 as long as everything continues to go well.
OGMA Investments LLC, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing and CMNWLTH’s Derby hero walked around the barn shedrow at Churchill Downs on Monday morning, two days after the chestnut colt won the Kentucky Derby by a length over Two Phil’s.
The Good Magic colt has been jogging at Churchill since then and following training on Friday, a decision will be made on whether to ship the colt to Pimlico.
Mage finished a close second in Gulfstream Park’s Curlin Florida Derby (G1) in his third career start, five weeks before taking the 149th Kentucky Derby. “It’s amazing. We’re still digesting it,” Delgado Jr. said.
Preakness week might be as controversial as Derby week when favoured Forte was scratched the morning of the race and Lord Miles was scratched as his trainer Saffie Jospeh, Jr was suspended from Churchill Downs.
This week, more bad news came for horse racing when multiple champion trainer Todd Pletcher was suspended and fined for a positive test (Class 4 meloxicam) on Forte.
Forte, meanwhile, is on the vet’s list and apparently will not be allowed to race in the Preakness.
Canadian-owned CHASE THE CHAOS is expected to compete in the Preakness for Bill Dory and Adam Ference.
Dory, 68, and his partner Adam Ference live near Edmonton, Alberta and own the Pennsylvania-bred son of Astern, whom they purchased sight unseen for $10,000 as a weanling in 2020. With his victory in the Feb. 11 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields for trainer Ed Moger Jr., Chase the Chaos earned a fees-paid berth in the 148th running of the Preakness, the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, May 20th.
Even though Chase the Chaos was far behind the winner in his last two starts, trainer Ed Moger Jr. said the gelding is showing him he is ready for the Preakness.
“He’s a picture of health. He looks great,” Moger said. “I know he didn’t run very good the last couple of times, but I still really like the horse. I really think he could have a shot. He’s a talented horse. Real strong.”
After finishing in the top three in the first five starts of his career, including a pair of wins, Chase the Chaos earned a fees-paid berth into the Preakness Stakes (G1) with a victory in the El Camino Real Derby on Feb. 11 at Golden Gate Fields. Off that success, Moger sent him from his base at Golden Gate to Santa Anita Park for the San Felipe (G2) on dirt on March 4. He finished seventh in the nine-horse field, beaten 16 ¾ lengths, and was found to have an exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage.
Moger opted for a little freshening for the Pennsylvania-bred and brought him back in the California Derby on the synthetic track at Golden Gate. Sent off as the 2-1 favorite, he hopped at the start and ended up eighth of nine.
“He couldn’t look any better, so we’re kind of throwing those out and we’re going to work him this weekend,” Moger said. I’m sure he will work really, really good.”
Probable Preakness Participants
Horse Trainer Most Recent Race
Mage – Gustavo Delgado 1st, 2023 Kentucky Derby G1
Disarm – Steven M. Asmussen 4th, 2023 Kentucky Derby G1
Confidence Game – Keith Desormeaux 10th, 2023 Kentucky Derby G1
First Mission -Brad H. Cox 1st, 2023 Lexington G3
Blazing Sevens- Chad C. Brown 3rd, 2023 Blue Grass Stakes G1
Red Route One- Steven M. Asmussen1st, 2023 Bath House Row LS
National Treasure-Bob Baffert4th, 2023 Santa Anita Derby G1
Chase The Chaos- Ed Moger, Jr. 8th, 2023 California Derby LS
Perform- Claude R. McGaughey III 1st, 2023 Federico Tesio LS
Lord Miles -Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 1st, 2023 Wood Memorial G2
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