The third meeting of 3-year-old racehorses Forte And magician has the potential to become a reality Racecourse Pimlico during the May 20 Preakness Stakes (G1), the second jewel of the Triple Crown.
Mage, the Kentucky Derby (G1) winner under Javier Castellano, and Forte, the Derby favorite before he was scratched because of regulatory veterinarian concerns regarding the bruise purple on the right forefoot, are two of the potential competitors in the classic 1 3/16 mile. Both will need to be healthy and train well in the interim to participate, representatives for the horses said.
The Preakness starting gate will likely be filled mostly with 3-year-olds, newbies shooting for the Triple Crown, with quick Lexington Stakes (G3) winners first mission chief among them.
Among the Kentucky Derby participants who lost, the winner of Rebel Stakes (G2) confidence game 10th in Run for the Roses, appearing this early to be the horse most likely to make a quick turnaround to Preakness.
Talk outside the Mage’s warehouse on the day Churchill Downs backstretch May 7, blood dealer Ramiro Restrepo, one of the owners of Mage along with OGMA Investments, Sterling Racing and Commonwealth, said coach Gustavo Delgado Sr. and his son, assistant Gustavo Delgado Jr. A firm decision on Preakness is made. But he said good magic The pony can run without any reason to skip the race.
Later in the morning, eldest brother Delgado said, “The horse looks great. I checked with the vet and it’s fine.”
Restrepo said the Mage’s best interests would come first, in line with their horse’s management. After the first win on January 28 at Gulfstream Park, the 3-year-old finished fourth in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) on March 4 and finished second in the April 1 Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream to qualify for the Kentucky Derby. He finished fourth in the Fountain of Youth and second in the Florida Derby against Forte, last year’s 2-year-old men’s champion.
“He took us racing with the race. We never pushed him or forced him to do what he didn’t want to do,” Restrepo said. “We put the horse first (our wish).”
Provided the Derby winner is healthy, he often returns to the Preakness to pursue the prestigious Triple Crown, a series of three races in five weeks that only 13 horses in history have crossed. Triple Crown ends with Belmont Stakes (G1) at 1 1/2 miles at Belmont Park June 10. Horses that can win the Triple Crown have become part of racing history and have seen their final stallion value increase.
Last year’s Derby winner rich attack was one of the few healthy Derby winners to skip the Preakness, and then he came back in the Belmont Stakes, finishing sixth.
Hall of Fame coach Todd Pletcher said Forte “looked fine this morning” a day after he scratched his head before the Derby. The Violence The foal has never missed a practice session since the bruise on his leg appeared last week.
“I thought he was going to do well yesterday,” Pletcher said, acknowledging that he “understands what veterinarians are seeing” and is working together for the well-being of the horses.
“Right now, people are doing everything they can to make sure the horses get out there in the safest possible condition,” he said. “However, we had two fatal incidents (in previous races) yesterday. It’s something that as a coach you’re going to have to stay up all night.”
Amid close veterinary surveillance following multiple deaths at Churchill Downs over the past two weeks, there have been five scratches from Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, with Forte being the only scratch on race day.
The two games that started Pletcher’s Derby, Tapit Trice (Saturday) and Kingsbarns (14th), do not refer to Preakness. Pletcher talking about Tapit Trice, son of faucet with the style and pedigree for remote success, that he would “strongly believe that Belmont is his next starting point.”
Plans are not solidified for Kingsbarns, who chased hot pace in the Derby before fading, although Pletcher said he “wouldn’t knock him out of Belmont.”
Trainer Brad Cox, like Pletcher, was often reluctant to give his horses a two-week break and didn’t have any of his four Derby participants aiming for Preakness. His Derby opponents—angel of the empire , impressions , Verification in progress , And Jace’s Road finished third, fifth, 16th and 17th respectively in the field of 18 horses.
His preakness is hopeful to be Godolphin’s upcoming First Mission, winner of two of three starts, including a 1/16-mile Lexington half-way victory at Keeneland April 15, three weeks before the Kentucky Derby.
First Mission Wins Lexington Stakes at Keeneland
Cox talking about his son street feeling who is scheduled to have an extra breeze before Preakness.
He quickly worked five stretches: 59 4/5 at Churchill Downs on the morning of the Derby.
Angel of Empire and Hit Show will be the two in Cox’s cage most likely to go after Belmont. The first will likely be one of the favorites in the race after starting as a Forte-free public choice at 4-1 in the Derby. He landed to the finish line after Mage 1/2 the way.
There are no immediate plans drawn up for the Derby runners-up Two Phil , coach Larry Rivelli informed Churchill Downs in public. Two Phil’s was the only horse that raced three rounds at a fast pace to compete in the final leg of the race. He took the lead midway before losing to a Mage that was gathering for a long time.
The confident game followed Two Phil’s stalking bid, advancing to fourth by a mile, but finishing in the final 1/4 mile of the Kentucky Derby, losing 14 1/2 of the way.
Confidence Game training on May 3 at Churchill Downs
“Fast pace but he tried as hard as he could,” coach Keith Desormeaux wrote via text message. “I apologize for putting too much pace on him during his work. He’s a bit too sharp.”
After the Kentucky Derby after 70 days off work, candy ride colt fresher than some of his kind.
Preakness, which Desormeaux won in 2016 with exaggeration , may be next. “Will decide in a week,” the coach texted.
Many other Derby horses shipped to Churchill Downs for the Derby are returning to their regular training facilities, including foreign competitors. sotogake skin And Mandarin hero . The Derby’s sixth and 12th place finishers depart for Japan on 8 May.
This story will be updated.
