Like the winner of the Kentucky Derby (G1) magician Assessing his patience on the track before opening the all-important finisher, the foal trainer prioritizes taking things slow and easy with his classic runner.
Coach Gustavo Delgado beat a number of classic races in his native Venezuela before deciding to journey to the United States about a decade ago in search of winning the classics here. After the off-the-board ends with Majesto 2016 and finally 1st class winner Bodexpress in 2019, this year’s Delgado won its first trip to the Derby winners’ circle with Mage.
Ramiro Restrepo, Mage’s co-owner, notes that Delgado is best preparing his horses for the longer classic races.
“Races at 1 3/8 mile, mile and a half, mile and a half, that’s his main job,” says Restrepo.
During that preparation, Delgado used a slow and steady approach. In Mage’s last five works before the Derby, the son of the 2018 Kentucky Derby Runner-up good magic work six stretches three times and five stretches twice. The times of those six long moves were 1:16.69, 1:14.78 and 1:16 4/5 — that last move was his last breeze a week before the Derby.
As the other Derby contenders were doing shorter runs before the Derby, on the Churchill track a week before the race, Mage demonstrated a very consistent and efficient stride — no wasted motion. when he moves. He was the only horse on the entire estate that worked six longhairs that day – no cookie cutters to be seen.
“We knew he was a nimble horse,” said Gustavo Delgado Jr., who supported his father. “The last few races and today we’re looking to increase fitness.
“We use jobs to keep the rhythm steady for a long time. (The Derby) is a long race and it’s the first time they’ve all gone that far. That’s my dad’s style. pretty much from the South (Venezuela.) That’s why he loves a race like this, especially when they’re covering a classic distance for the first time.”
After the Derby, winning driver Javier Castellano credited Mage’s regular exerciser JJ Delgado for carrying out the coach’s plans.
Mage didn’t race at the age of 2 because Restrepo noted that coach Delgado wanted to give him a break after he was purchased for $290,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale on May. Restrepo, which compares 2-year-old sales to the combined NFL, said Delgado wanted to give Mage a few months off after that sale.
Restrepo said Delgado then did not set Mage’s launch date target but let the pony tell him when he was ready. It turned out to be the seven-strike special women’s weight class he won on January 28 at Gulfstream Park—Pegasus Day. Restrepo said Delgado likes to race on big days in front of large crowds.
There is no bigger stage than the Derby and with Mage Delgado delivered a masterful performance.
