Fort Bragg, Mage join Florida Derby lineup

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The complexion of the starting lineup for next Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby took a turn for the better Friday with confirmation that Fort Bragg and Mage are now both being pointed to the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby prep.

Fort Bragg was one of seven 3-year-olds entered in Sunday’s Sunland Park Derby before his connections called an audible and decided to re-route him to Gulfstream Park six days later. Fort Bragg is coming off a fifth-place finish behind stablemate Practical Move in the Grade 2 San Felipe at Santa Anita in his only start this season.

“The race at Sunland came up with a little more speed than we had planned on running against; that was the main reason for the change,” trainer Tim Yakteen explained. “Also the potential for being able to accumulate Kentucky Derby qualifying points was a factor. The minor awards in Florida would likely get you into the Derby. You would most likely have to win the race at Sunland to get in.”

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The Sunland Derby offers 100 points distributed among the top five finishers. The Florida Derby offers 200 qualifying points meted out on a 100-40-30-20-10 basis.

Fort Bragg will enter the Florida Derby with only five points. Yakteen said Joel Rosario will have the mount.

Mage, who finished fourth following a slow start and wide trip in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth in just his second start, breezed an easy six furlongs in 1:16.71 here Friday before galloping out a mile in 1:43.34.

“It was just what my dad wanted, basically maintenance with the intention to work on his stamina,” said Gustavo Delgado Jr., assistant to his father, trainer Gustavo Delgado. “We already know he’s fast. He went just like we planned. We liked what we saw. If everything goes well between now and tomorrow morning, he will be entered in the Florida Derby. We all agree Forte is on another level, but he’s just one horse.”

The younger Delgado also confirmed that Luis Saez will pick up the mount on Mage in the Florida Derby.

At Palm Beach Downs on Friday, Tampa Bay Derby winner Tapit Trice breezed four furlongs in 49.82 seconds while in company with Dreamlike before galloping out five-eighths in 1:02.97, per clocker David Norton. Tapit Trice is scheduled to have his final Kentucky Derby prep on April 8 at Keeneland in the Blue Grass Stakes.

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