LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Heavy rain, thunder and lightning populated the Churchill Downs backstretch Sunday morning, but it was all sunshine and rainbows at Barn 42, where Kentucky Derby winner Mage was ambivalent to Mother Nature and a small crowd that jammed into the barn to avoid the elements. “The horse looks pretty amazing this morning,” said Ramiro Restrepo, part owner and the bloodstock agent who selected Mage at auction. “He’s the same cool, calm customer as he’s been from his maiden on through.” Provided Mage continues to thrive, he will make his next start in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 20. Mage will remain at Churchill Downs for at least one week and will have just an open gallop between the Derby and the Preakness. Horses running in the Preakness must be on the Pimlico grounds by noon May 17. Restrepo believes it’s Mage’s mind as much as his ability that makes him a talented horse. The Kentucky Derby was just his fourth start, and he rallied from 16th place, weaving his way through traffic from more than 13 lengths back, before going five-wide at the head of the lane and outfinishing Two Phil’s to win the Derby by a length. :: Get ready to bet the Preakness! Join DRF Bets and score a $250 Deposit Match + $10 Free Bet + Free PPs - Promo code: WINNING Mage, a son of Good Magic, earned a 105 Beyer Speed Figure for the performance. Restrepo credited trainer Gustavo Delgado’s methods, developed through years of preparing horses to run long in his native Venezuela, to having Mage so well prepared to make that long, sustained run and get the 1 1/4 miles on Saturday. “That’s his Michael Jordan fadeaway, bread-and-butter training system,” Restrepo said. “This is what he specializes in, to teach the horse to settle. It’s a lot of the regimen that leads to the horse himself picking it up and getting into the race. Obviously, a lot of factors in a race can pop up that can make you change script, but Javy’s expert timing and the horse himself brought him to the wire.” Javy is jockey Javier Castellano, who won his first Kentucky Derby in his 16th try. Castellano, 45, had ridden Mage once, a fourth in the Fountain of Youth, but it was Luis Saez who rode Mage to a second-place finish in the Florida Derby. With Saez committed to Tapit Trice for the Derby, Castellano was able to get back on for the Kentucky Derby. For Delgado, 65, winning the Kentucky Derby surpassed his exploits of winning the Venezuelan Triple Crown three times. “It’s a premier race, this is a very good time for my family and me,” Delgado said. “Winning the Derby, it’s an amazing moment for me.” Two Phil’s, who was the only horse in close proximity to the pace still around at the finish, was scheduled to return to Hawthorne Race Course on Sunday afternoon. Trainer Larry Rivelli said immediately after the race that the Preakness would be considered, but he wanted to evaluate the horse first before making any decisions. Other horses from the Kentucky Derby that will be considered for the Preakness include Disarm (4th), and Confidence Game (10th), according to trainers Steve Asmussen and Keith Desormeaux, respectively. Forte, the morning-line favorite for the Derby who was scratched Saturday morning by Kentucky Horse Racing Commission veterinarian Nick Smith due to a bruised foot, will be considered for the Preakness, trainer Todd Pletcher said Sunday morning. Forte will remain at Churchill Downs and Pletcher hopes to work the horse Friday or Saturday. “If we like the breeze, we plan on going to Pimlico,” Pletcher said. Pletcher believed his horse was healthy enough to run and said “I think he would have performed well yesterday. Unfortunately, that was not an option.” Given the fact Forte beat Mage in both the Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby, Pletcher said watching Mage win the Florida Derby was ‘bittersweet.' “It didn’t matter who won, we were going to be disappointed we didn’t get to start Forte, the fact that Mage won makes you think more of a what-if,” Pletcher added. “I guess on the bright side, everybody who was critical of his Florida Derby can put that to bed.” Other horses who did not participate in the Kentucky Derby who could be considered for the Preakness are Blazing Sevens, Chase the Chaos, First Mission, National Treasure, and Red Route One. Pletcher said Tapit Trice, who finished seventh in the Derby, will likely be pointed to the Belmont Stakes on June 10. Kingsbarns, who finished 14th, is also possible for the Belmont. Brad Cox trains First Mission, who won the Lexington Stakes. Cox said none of his four Derby runners - Angel of Empire (3rd), Hit Show (5th), Verifying (16th) and Jace’s Road (17th) - would be considered for the Preakness. Cox said Angel of Empire and Hit Show could be considered for the Belmont Stakes. Verifying might be cut back in distance while Jace’s Road will likely meet lesser company. The trio of Japan-based horses, Derma Sotogake (6th Kentucky Derby), Mandarin Hero (12th) and Continuar (scratched), were all scheduled to return to Japan on Monday. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.