Haskell, Jim Dandy decision coming for Derby winner Mage

The major work seems about done, but the final decision has not been made quite yet regarding plans for Kentucky Derby winner Mage’s next start, which will come either in the $1 million Haskell this Saturday at Monmouth Park or one week later in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga.

Working for the fourth time since his third-place finish as the favorite in the Preakness on May 20, Mage breezed six furlongs in 1:13.40 under regular exercise rider J.J. Delgado on Friday at the Thoroughbred Training Center in Lexington, Ky.

He was galloping out “better than ever,” according to assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr.

“I think this was his best work yet, he’s doing great,” said Delgado, son of trainer Gustavo Delgado. “We’ll wait and see how he comes out of the work the next few days before making a final decision on whether to send him to Monmouth later this week for the Haskell or wait another week, work him again, and go to the Jim Dandy. He did miss a work or two here because of rain. We were hoping to have gotten five or six under his belt before he ran again, but he certainly has progressed extremely well to this point and is doing great. Entries for the Haskell won’t be drawn until Wednesday, so we can wait up until then to decide if we have to. He doesn’t have to be on the grounds for the race until Friday.”

One decision that has finally been confirmed is that Javier Castellano, who rode Mage to victory in the Kentucky Derby and was aboard again in the Preakness, will have the mount if he does run in the Haskell next Saturday. Castellano also is the regular rider for Belmont Stakes winner Arcangelo, who is currently training at Saratoga and, like Mage, has the Grade 1 Travers on Aug. 26 at Saratoga as his major goal this summer.

“We’re not concerned about who else might be going to the Haskell or the Jim Dandy, all we’re thinking about when we make our decision is what’s best for our horse, and what is the best way to bring him into the Travers in peak form,” the younger Delgado said.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.