Restrepo confident Mage will move forward in Travers
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Kentucky Derby winner Mage, runner-up in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park, was scheduled to arrive in Saratoga on Monday afternoon to prepare for a start in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 26.
Part-owner Ramiro Restrepo, said he was “over the moon” with Mage’s second-place finish to Geaux Rocket Ride in the Haskell, Mage’s first start since his third-place finish in the Preakness Stakes on May 20. Mage had only four published workouts between the Preakness and Haskell.
“Sometimes you win without winning,” Restrepo said. “You had that feeling in the Florida Derby, where we were so pleased with his effort. The competitive nature of you always wants to win.”
Restrepo said trainer Gustavo Delgado and his son and assistant Gustavo Delgado Jr. “are super competitive so they were satisfied, but I was more doing cartwheels because you just want to put forth these efforts in big races.”
Mage has made six starts this year. Following a maiden win and a fourth in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, he has won or placed in four straight Grade 1 stakes – second in the Florida Derby, first in the Kentucky Derby, third in the Preakness, and second in the Haskell.
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“That’s a monster résumé,” Restrepo said. “When you’re constantly going up against that kind of horse and you’re constantly putting up serious efforts, how can I not be looking at the big picture and not be so happy about that?”
Restrepo said the Haskell was used by design to move Mage forward to a top effort in the Travers. Mage earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure for the Haskell, in which he was within a head of Geaux Rocket Ride at the eighth pole, but ultimately was beaten 1 3/4 lengths.
“I know he wasn’t 100 percent,” Restrepo said. “He’s 100 percent sound and 100 percent ready to compete, but you know there’s more in the well. You know he’s going to move forward off this race and that’s what you’re looking for.”
The Travers field could very well include Preakness winner National Treasure and Belmont Stakes winner Arcangelo. A strong quartet – Forte, Angel of Empire, Hit Show, and Disarm – will run in Saturday’s Jim Dandy, the local prep for the Travers.
There is still the matter of who will ride Mage in the Travers. Javier Castellano has ridden Mage four times, including in the Derby, but he is also the rider of Arcangelo, whom he guided to victories in the Peter Pan and Belmont.
“Hopefully, we can come to an understanding where things are with us and Javier sooner rather than later,” Restrepo said. “I think Gustavo is going to have that conversation to have an idea of where his thought process is. If Javier chooses to ride us, amazing; if he doesn’t I’m sure we’ll be able to find someone fully capable to ride.”
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