Kentucky Derby winner Mage tested the capacity limits of the winner’s circle at Churchill Downs, as he is owned by the four-pronged partnership of OGMA Investments, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing, and Commonwealth, the latter involving several hundred partners. But, improbably, the winner's stand for the Preakness Stakes two weeks later looked even more likely to overflow as the owners of National Treasure took their turn with the Woodlawn Vase.
Mage, a graduate of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-olds in training sale, returned to Maryland a year after that auction as the Kentucky Derby winner.
Less than 48 hours after he was expected to start in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes, horsemen will head to the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, some 15 minutes away, for this year’s Midlantic May sale. The auction has steadily grown in prominence from a solid regional sale into one of the leading auctions in the nation, buoyed by a constant stream of graded stakes-winning graduates.
This is the second in a three-part series examining Secretariat’s influence on the Thoroughbred bloodstock industry as we mark the 50-year anniversary of his historic Triple Crown triumphs. This week, learn about Big Red’s record as a sire, with his breakthrough performer in the American classics being Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner Risen Star, 35 years ago.
National Treasure is considered one of the primary challengers to Kentucky Derby winner Mage in the Preakness Stakes. Passing on the Kentucky Derby worked out well for one of the most prominent names deep in National Treasure’s family. His female line traces directly to Masda, full sister to the great Man o’ War, who skipped the 1920 Kentucky Derby before dominating the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.
Coffeewithchris, who is trying to become the first Maryland-bred in four decades to win his birth state’s biggest race, has already been a breakthrough horse for current National Thoroughbred Racing Association president and CEO Tom Rooney, as the first stakes winner he has bred.
The magic long associated with one of America’s most prominent classic sirelines glittered through with Kentucky Derby winner Mage. He is by champion Good Magic, the latest wizard in this family, as the second son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin in a row to sire the Derby winner from his first crop. The 2023 Triple Crown now moves on to the Preakness Stakes, a race with which this family has worked particular alchemy.
None of this year’s North American freshman sires have yet recorded a winner on this continent, but Eclipse Award champion sprinter Mitole was first off the mark anywhere in the world, with a winner in Russia on Tuesday.
Mit Myth won his maiden at first asking at Nal’chik in Southern Russia. The Louisiana-bred colt, out of the Artie Schiller mare Family Myth, was a $30,000 purchase as a short yearling out of the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale, under the name Delta Bloodstock.
Six years ago, Daddys Lil Darling headed overseas for a tilt in the Epsom Oaks. But the plan fell apart at the last moment when the filly was unnerved by thunder and lightning on her way to the gate, lost her rider, and was a late scratch.
In a nice bit of kismet, Daddys Lil Darling is now the dam of the early favorite for this year’s Epsom Oaks. Her first foal, Savethelastdance, scored a devastating 22-length victory in the Cheshire Oaks on Tuesday at Chester to stamp herself as a classic threat.
Steve Cauthen rode his way into the history books while still a teenager on 1978 Triple Crown winner Affirmed, then went on to a highly successful career riding in Europe, winning multiple classics among other major events.
Now in another phase of his involvement in the Thoroughbred world, Cauthen owns Holding the Line, a juvenile getting ready to take his own trip across the pond with an eye on next month’s renowned Royal Ascot meeting.
Arrogate was posthumously represented by a Kentucky Oaks winner from his first crop, as Secret Oath won the 2022 edition of the filly classic nearly two years after the sire's death. Arrogate will have two representatives from his second, and penultimate, crop in this Friday's Oaks, in Grade 1-winning juvenile And Tell Me Nolies and last-out Grade 2 winner Affirmative Lady.
