Everything has gone as planned as Kentucky Derby (G1) champion Mage continues on his path to the $1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 26.
The son of Good Magic had his final work for the Midsummer Derby Aug. 19 on the main track, going six furlongs in 1:15.56. It was his third work since arriving at the Spa following a second place finish in the Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park July 22.
With exercise rider J. J. Delgado, Mage did exactly what trainer Gustavo Delgado and his son and assistant, Gustavo Delgado Jr., wanted him to do.
“My dad told J.J. to go in 1:15, 1:16 and that’s exactly what we got,” Delgado Jr. said while watching Mage cool out at the barn at the Oklahoma Training Track. “He just asked him for a little at the end.”
Delgado Jr. said Mage has acclimated nicely to Saratoga. In his last two races, the Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Course May 20 and the Haskell, Mage shipped in the week of the race.
Getting to Saratoga early has been beneficial, Delgado Jr. said.
“He likes it up here,” he said. “He has showing us good signs. After that race (Haskell), he woke up and started to get more aggressive. In a good way. We have seen him getting back into form. I am pretty certain he is going to show in the Travers because he is feeling good. I am really looking forward to it.”
This will be Mage’s seventh career starts—all of them this year. Since winning the Derby, he finished third in the Preakness and then was the runner-up in the Haskell. The Travers will be his fifth consecutive grade 1 race.
Mage, owned by OGMA Investments, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing and CMNWLTH, will be ridden in the Travers by Luis Saez, who last rode him in the Florida Derby (G1) where he was second to Forte . Javier Castellano, who will ride Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Arcangelo in the Travers, had ridden Mage in his last three starts.
