Gray Magician works to Miller's satisfaction for Kentucky Derby

Gray Magician, the runner-up in the Group 2 United Arab Emirates Derby in Dubai on March 30, worked a half-mile in 48.40 seconds at the San Luis Rey Downs training center in California on Saturday in preparation for the Kentucky Derby on May 4.

Gray Magician worked “nice and easy” and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01, trainer Peter Miller said. This was Gray Magician’s first workout since he returned to California from the trip to the Middle East.

“I put him with some company to give him a target,” Miller said. “He’s going to work next Saturday, and if he works as well as he worked this week, we’ll go to Kentucky on Tuesday [April 30].

“He’s looking good.”

Owned by Wachtel Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Gary Barber, Gray Magician has one win in eight starts, a maiden race at Del Mar last November. Earlier this year, Gray Magician ran in two stakes, finishing fourth in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita in January and second in the Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel in February.

In the UAE Derby, Gray Magician was beaten three-quarters of a length by Plus Que Parfait, another probable starter in the Kentucky Derby.

Joel Rosario rode Gray Magician in the UAE Derby but is booked to ride Game Winner in the Kentucky Derby. Gray Magician did not have a rider as of Saturday.

“There is not a rush right now to make a decision,” Miller said. “We’ll wait and see. There won’t be a shortage of good jockeys.”