While the thrill of winning the Kentucky Derby is still sinking in to his connections, Mage seemingly just wants to get back to business.
Mage returned to the track Tuesday at Churchill Downs, where he jogged a mile and galloped a mile over a sloppy track. Wednesday, he did a bit more, galloping 1 1/2 miles.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge series will continue to be structured partially along regional lines for the second year in a row, the organization said on Wednesday when announcing the schedule for the series, which awards winners with automatic, fees-paid berths in the event’s races.
Forte, the morning-line Kentucky Derby favorite who was scratched the morning of the race, had a positive drug test after winning the Sept. 5 Hopeful Stakes last year that has yet to be fully adjudicated, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
Mage, the Kentucky Derby winner, went back to the track Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs for the first time since his 15-1 upset in last Saturday’s Run for the Roses.
According to assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr., Mage jogged one mile and galloped one mile over a muddy Churchill surface.
“The rider said he felt good and with lots of energy,” Delgado said via text.
Delgado indicated that travel plans for Mage from Kentucky to Maryland have not yet been finalized. Horses participating in the Preakness must be on the grounds by noon on May 17.
The final hour of the NBC broadcast of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday evening drew a 6.9 rating with a 24 share, according to the network, while drawing the largest audience for a sports broadcast since the Super Bowl.
The rating was a 10.4 percent decline from last year’s rating of 7.7, but the share was identical to last year. Share measures the percentage of televisions in use that are tuned to a broadcast.
The three racetracks in western Canada have joined forces to create the Western Canadian Triple Crown. The three-race series consists of the $125,000 Manitoba Derby at Assiniboia Downs Aug. 7, the Grade 3, $200,000 Canadian Derby at Century Mile Aug. 26, and wraps up at Hastings on Sept. 16 with the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby. The Manitoba Derby and B.C. Derby will be contested at 1 1/8 miles with the Canadian Derby at 1 1/4 miles.
If a horse wins all three races, his owners will receive the $100,000 bonus attached to the series.
The connections of Perform will pay a $150,000 supplemental fee to make him eligible to run in the $1.5 million Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 20, trainer Shug McGaughey said Monday.
“We’re a go,” McGaughey said.
Perform was not nominated to the Triple Crown by either of the first two deadlines -- $600 by Jan. 28 or $6,000 by March 27-- because he had just a maiden win to his credit from five starts, the win coming on March 11 at Tampa Bay Downs. One of Perform’s maiden losses came by 5 1/2 lengths to Mage, who last Saturday won the Kentucky Derby.
Forte, the morning-line favorite for the Kentucky Derby who was scratched the morning of the race, was placed on a 14-day veterinarian’s list due to the scratch and, as a result, will be unable to start in the Preakness Stakes on May 20.
Brad Cox won six stakes at Churchill Downs and one more at Belmont Park last week, but it was the big one that got away that left him feeling a tad empty Sunday morning.
Despite having four of the 18 runners in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, Cox went away empty-handed with Angel of Empire’s third-place finish behind Mage the best placing among his quartet. Hit Show ran a respectable fifth, while Verifying and Jace’s Road finished 16th and 17th, respectively.
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.”
