Update: Javier Castellano named to ride Mage in the 149th Kentucky Derby
Photo, Nicole Thomas, Coglianese Photos, Gulfstream Park
Mage, the exciting lightly raced prospect for the 149th Kentucky Derby arrived at Churchill Downs this morning. The colt, a runner up to Kentucky Derby likely favorite Forte in The Florida Derby in just his third start arrived for The Run for the Roses on the First Saturday in May happy and sound according to owner Ramiro Restrepo.
Mage broke his maiden first out on the Pegasus World Cup undercard and was impressive enough for Gustavo Delgado who has a history of horses running very well at big prices in big races brought the colt back in the Fountain of Youth. Mage didn’t run his race that day but the connections kept the faith and were rewarding with a big second to Forte in The Florida Derby and now finds himself as a lightly raced up and comer in the big dance.
Mage is scheduled to get acquainted with the Churchill Downs track tomorrow morning. A rider has yet to be named for Mage in the Derby but that decision will be made and announced later today or tomorrow in all likelihood. We’ll update this article when that happens.
Update; The connections of Mage have named jockey Javier Castellano to ride Mage in the Kentucky Derby. Javier rode Mage in the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park and was excited about the colt. This is what he had to say that morning:
