By US Racing Team
Viva Venezuela!
Mage took charge in the stretch and outdueled Two Phil’s in an exciting finish to the 149th Kentucky Derby (G1) on Saturday at Churchill Downs before a crowd of 150,335.
The lightly raced colt came into the Derby with just a maiden victory in three career starts but proved to be the best of the 3-year-olds in the 18-horse field.
The Derby win was the first for Venezuelan trainer Gustavo Delgado and countryman Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano, who was 0-for-15 in the Run for the Roses.
“I always tried hard to do the right thing,’’ Castellano said. “It took me a little while, but I never gave up.”
Mage won by a length after moving past Two Phil’s in mid-stretch. The winning time for 1 ¼ miles was 2:01.57. Mage returned $32.42 for a $2 win bet.
Looking back in Derby history, Venezuela-bred Canonero II won the 1971 Derby for trainer Juan Arias, with Gustavo Avila aboard, at odds of 8-1.
Mage, a chestnut son of Great Magic, was bred in Kentucky. As Castellano blew kisses to the huge crowd on an overcast day at Churchill Downs, the cheers flowed through the grandstand
While the Derby winner was celebrated, tumult and tragedy continued to dog Churchill Downs and the racing industry.
Two more horses died on the track at Churchill on Derby Day, bringing the total to seven over the past nine days. A total of five Derby entrants were scratched in the past few days, including expected favorite Forte the morning of the race. Another, Saffie Joseph, Jr.-trained Lord Miles, was scratched by Kentucky racing stewards after two of the trainer’s other horses died on the track.
The winning owners are Miami natives Ramiro Restrepo and Sam Herzberg and 382 partners brought together by Commonwealth Racing.
Verifying, Kingsbarns and Reincarnate set the pace with opening fractions of 22.35 seconds, 45.73, and 1:10.11. Two Phil’s rated just behind on the rail.
By the far turn, Castellano made his move with Mage through traffic and launched his run. By the top of the stretch, Two Phil’s swept to the lead but Castellano took his colt eight-wide and passed Two Phil’s beyond the eighth pole and went on to victory.
Trainer Brad Cox had four starters in the race, with Angel of Empire finishing third, Verifying 16th and Jace’s Road 17th.
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who trains Forte, had two others in the Derby, with second favorite Tapit Trice seventh and Kingsbarns 14th.
The Japan-bred horses, Derma Sotogake and Mandarin Hero, did not fare well, either, finishing sixth and 12th, respectively.
Mage is the fourth horse to win the Derby off only three lifetime starts. The others were Justify in 2018, Big Brown in 2008 and Regret in 1915.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
