Mage works in Kentucky, leaning toward Haskell as Travers prep

Kentucky Derby winner Mage moved a step closer to his next start after working six furlongs in 1:13.75 Friday at the Thoroughbred Training Center in Lexington, Ky., according to assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr. Regular exercise rider J.J. Delgado was aboard.

The work was the third and stiffest yet for Mage since being given some time off following his third-place finish as the 7-5 favorite in the Preakness on May 20.

“It was an excellent work. The track is a bit deep at the training center,” said Delgado, son of trainer Gustavo Delgado Sr. “He galloped out a long ways afterwards. His usual routine, way more than a mile.”

Delgado said the $1 million Haskell Invitational on July 22 or the Grade 2 Jim Dandy the following week at Saratoga are both options for Mage’s next start, with the former perhaps the slight favorite in light of the way he worked on Saturday.

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“We’re really happy with the way he’s doing right now,” said Delgado. “He’s looking good, put on some weight, recovered pretty quick from the work today. All the right signs are there. My dad wants to go to the Haskell. If he does the same thing he did today or even close to that next week, that’s probably the direction we’re leaning in at the moment.”

Delgado said Mage would work again next Friday at the training center, rather than ship to Saratoga this coming week as originally scheduled.

“It’s been raining and very hot in Saratoga so we’re going to stay here a little longer where we still have good weather, cooler weather,” said Delgado. “We’ll either ship directly to New Jersey or up to Saratoga after his next work, depending on which direction we take for his next start.”

Delgado said no discussions have been held as yet with jockey Javier Castellano, who rode Mage to victory in the Derby, regarding what plans he might have moving forward this summer. Castellano is also the regular rider for Belmont Stakes winner Arcangelo, who, like Mage, also has the Grade 1 Travers at Saratoga on Aug. 26 as his major goal this summer.

“We didn’t want to reach out to Javier until we got this work under his belt this morning, until we knew a little better where we stood,” said Delgado. “But I’m sure we’ll get together with him or his agent [P.J. Campo] later this week and see what their plans are at the moment.”

Arcangelo worked Wednesday at Saratoga after which his trainer, Jena Antonucci, said she was likely leaning toward training her star up to the Travers rather than bring him back in either the Haskell or Jim Dandy.

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