Majesto has final Florida work, then heads to Louisville

MIAMI - Florida Derby runner-up Majesto will bid south Florida adieu and head on to Churchill Downs after breezing a mile in 1:44.41 on a warm and muggy Thursday morning at Gulfstream Park West.

With regular exercise rider J.J. Delgado aboard, Majesto broke off at the six-furlong pole, posted splits of 26.07, 50.62 and 1:15.98 to the wire, then continued around the clubhouse turn in what looked more like a gallop-out to complete the mile where he began at the top of the backstretch. He was under just light urging from the eighth pole to the finish line.

“He went his last five furlongs to the wire in 1:02 and change,” said trainer Gustavo Delgado. “I didn’t want him to do too much before making the trip to Kentucky tomorrow. He is a much better work horse in company than when he goes alone.”

Delgado said Majesto would have one more work prior to the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

Majesto will fly to Louisville on Friday along with stablemates Paola Queen and Grand Tito. Paola Queen will compete in the Kentucky Oaks, and Grand Tito is scheduled to run in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic.

Delgado has yet to name a jockey on Majesto for the Derby. Javier Castellano, who guided Majesto to his second-place finish behind Nyquist in the $1 million Florida Derby, is committed to ride Destin.