Mage back to work for next Kentucky Derby prep

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Mage, the fourth-place finisher in the Fountain of Youth in just his second career start, will have his first workout since that March 4 race when breezing Friday at Gulfstream Park, assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr. said early this week.

Mage earned an 88 Beyer Speed Figure while beaten 6 3/4 lengths by Forte in the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth. The chestnut Good Magic colt won his only prior start, a seven-furlong maiden race on the Jan. 28 Pegasus World Cup undercard, with an 89 Beyer. Owned by a four-way partnership, he is listed at 50-1 in the latest Daily Racing Form Derby Watch Top 20.

“His next race is still undecided,” said Delgado, the son of trainer Gustavo Delgado Sr. “If he does not run in the Florida Derby, it will be the Blue Grass.”

The Florida Derby will be run April 1 at Gulfstream Park, while the Blue Grass goes on April 8 at Keeneland.

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Mage, the 5-1 co-second choice in the Fountain of Youth, ran himself into a forward spot after overcoming a bit of a slow start. He was part of a contending group that Forte swept past in upper stretch en route to a 4 1/2-length win.

The senior Delgado is a racing legend in the family’s native Venezuela and has been inducted into the Caribbean Racing Hall of Fame. Since he began training in the United States in 2014, Delgado has had two Kentucky Derby starters – Majesto was 18th in 2016, and Bodexpress was 13th in 2019. He has two Grade 1 wins on this continent, the latest coming with Bodexpress in the 2020 Clark at Churchill Downs.

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