Gray Magician being rested in Kentucky

ARCADIA, Calif. – Gray Magician is being rested at a Kentucky farm after finishing last of 19 in the Kentucky Derby last Saturday.

Trainer Peter Miller said Gray Magician bled “a little bit” in the Kentucky Derby. Sent off at 33-1, Gray Magician was 14th on the backstretch and as close as 13th on the turn before fading through the stretch on a sloppy and sealed racetrack.

“I don’t think he’ll be seeing a wet track again,” Miller said. “His two worse races were on sloppy tracks.”

Gray Magician was fifth in an optional claiming race on a sloppy and sealed track at Santa Anita in January.

Miller said he does not have any specific race goals for Gray Magician, but mentioned the Grade 3 Indiana Derby, a $500,000 race at 1 1/16 miles at Indiana Grand on July 13, as an option.

“We’re giving him a short break,” he said. “We’ve got lots of races to choose from.”

Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Gary Barber, and Wachtel Stable, Gray Magician has one win in 9 starts and earnings of $584,140. He was second in the Grade 2, $2.5 million UAE Derby in Dubai on March 30.

Miller said the two-time Grade 1 winner Spiced Perfection will be considered for stakes at Belmont Park in June and Saratoga in August after finishing fourth as the 7-2 second choice in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff Stakes at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

Spiced Perfection was beaten 6 3/4 lengths by 11-1 Mia Mischief in the $500,000 Humana Distaff at seven furlongs.

“I think that race was a throwout,” Miller said. “She never picked up the bit. She ran fourth on class and heart.”

Possible spots for Spiced Perfection include the Grade 3 Bed o’ Roses Invitational for fillies and mares at seven furlongs at Belmont Park on June 7, the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Stakes at 1 1/16 miles the following day, and the Grade 1 Ballerina Stakes at seven furlongs at Saratoga on Aug. 24.

Miller has approximately 30 horses at Keeneland with plans for further expansion in Kentucky, including a stable at Churchill Downs.

“We’ll have stalls at both spots,” Miller said. “We’re not leaving California. We’re just diversifying. I’ve got 50 here.”