After a series of horse deaths at Churchill Downs last week raised questions about the future of horse racing, Mage scored a stunning victory in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, capping a nerve-wracking day that included two more horse deaths ahead of the 149th edition of the most famous race in the world.
Mage, a 15-1 shot, had just one career win, giving little indication that he could prevail against 17 opponents in a race that doesn’t take kindly to the inexperienced.
Still, he ran a gutsy run, passing Two Phil’s on the inside and winning by a length. Mage, who did not run as a 2-year-old, ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:01.57.
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Mage joined Justify (2018), Big Brown (2008) and Regret (2015) as Derby winners with just three previous starts.
“He showed today that it didn’t matter,” assistant coach and co-owner Gustavo Delgado Jr. said.
The colt was in the capable hands of Javier Castellano, a Hall of Fame jockey who hasn’t been in much demand lately. The 45-year-old Castellano broke a 0-for-15 run in the Derby.
“I never give up,” Castellano said. “I always strive to do the right thing. It took me a while to get there. I finally got it.”
Castellano and coach Gustavo Delgado are from Venezuela. Mage joined Canonero II as a Derby winner with Venezuelan ties. Canonero II won the 1971 Derby and Preakness.
Entering the backstretch, Mage was ahead by just three horses. Castellano and Mage began to pick up the competition and at the furthest corner they launched their race.
“Coming home, I had a lot of heart,” Castellano said. “He’s a horse with a big heart.”
Two Phil took the lead at the top of the stretch. Mage spun outward and took aim at the leader. Mage overtook him at the eighth pole and cruised to victory.
“Everything went according to plan,” Delgado Jr. said. “This is the dream I have, a year and a half ago, I wrote a note: ‘Let’s win the Derby next year’.”
Early favorite Forte was scratched in the morning with a bruised foot, one of five horses to go down before the race.
Mage paid $32.42, $14.58 and $9.08. The colt earned $1,860,000 for the biggest win of his short career.
Two Phil’s returned $10.44 and $6.52.
“Man, he’s worked so hard and his heart came out,” said Larry Rivelli, who trains Two Phil’s.
Angel of Empire, the 4-1 favorite, was another half in third in front of a crowd of 150,335 on a warm, partly cloudy day at Churchill Downs. Paid $4.70 to show.
Earlier in the day, Chloe’s Dream, a 3-year-old gelding, and Freezing Point, a 3-year-old colt, were euthanized after being injured in their races.
“It’s a very difficult subject to deal with,” said Ramiro Restrepo, who is part of Mage’s property and a blood agent. “I’m sure there will be some research into the reason for this, and hopefully this will provide some more answers.”
The string of horse deaths was on the minds of some Derby attendees.
“It’s concerning, and I hope they do everything they can to correct what’s going on,” said Michael Freeze, who along with his friend dressed up as jockeys. “They have to do what’s best for the horses and the sport in general.”
Chloe’s Dream injured her right front knee, trainer Jeff Hiles told The Associated Press.
“He took a bad step out there,” Hiles said. “They could do the same thing on the field as they did on the track. So it’s very unfortunate. That’s what we’re all about.”
Freezing Point suffered a left ankle injury in the Pat Day Mile, trainer Joe Lejzerowicz told the AP.
“He just got hit in the back,” Lejzerowicz said. “He never took a wrong step or a bobble. He had a big heart.”
New anti-doping and drug rules enforced by the sport’s central governing body are set to come into effect on May 22.
“All I can say is we do our best to take care of our horses. We treat them better than our children. And we have full confidence in the soundness of our horse,” Restrepo said. “We’ve been training here for two weeks and he’s really been flourishing on this circuit.”
The deaths included Derby contestant Wild On Ice. Two of the horses were trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. He was suspended indefinitely by the track, although investigators have not yet determined the cause of death for his horses.
A relieved Tim Yakteen, who trained Reincarnate to 13th place, said: “The main thing is the horse did well.”
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, a two-time Triple Crown winner, is nearing the end of a two-year suspension issued by Churchill Downs Inc. One of his horses, Medina Spirit, crossed the finish line first in the 2021 Derby and failed. a post-race drug test. The horse was disqualified and Baffert was punished.
In 2019, more than 30 horse deaths occurred at California’s Santa Anita racetrack, shaking the industry and prompting safety reforms. Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Rick Dutrow had his license revoked in 2011 for 10 years by New York officials. Regulators found syringes loaded with unauthorized drugs on a desk in his barn. Dutrow served his sentence and reopened his stable last month.
Four horses have been scratched in recent days: Practical Move, Lord Miles, Continuar and Skinner. Practical Move and Skinner were feverish, while Continuar was not at his best, according to his Japanese trainer. Lord Miles was Joseph’s Derby horse.
Disarm was fourth, followed by Hit Show, Japan-based Derma Sotogake, Tapit Trice and Raise Cain, Rocket Can, Confidence Game, Sun Thunder, Japan’s Mandarin Hero, Reincarnate, Kingsbarns, King Russell, Verifying, Jace’s Road and Cyclone Mischief .
