Co-owner Ramiro Restrepo has quiet confidence in his 3-year-old colt Mage ahead of Saturday's Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park, despite the fact that the son of Good Magic has only had one start before taking on Champion Forte and Grade 1 winner Blazing Sevens.
Trained by Gustavo Delgado, Mage broke his maiden in that one start on Pegasus World Cup day at Gulfstream, winning by 3 3/4 lengths at odds of nearly 12-1.
“I remember as we were getting closer to his maiden race, Papa Delgado, the trainer, Gustavo Delgado Sr., had this race circled on Pegasus Day,” Restrepo told Nick Luck on the Nick Luck Daily Podcast this week. “We know that on a big day like that, everybody's going to try to bring their best foot forward with an exciting maiden. We were expecting a big performance, but obviously when they prove it on the track it's that much more amazing.”
Restrepo teamed up with Delgado's son at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-old sale to purchase Mage for $290,000, a higher price tag than the pair usually target at the sales.
“He had an eye-catching breeze,” Restrepo recalled. “I remembered the dam (Puca, by Big Brown) clearly; she broke her maiden by like 17 lengths at Belmont, and had a terrible trip in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, but could have won it with a better trip.
“We wanted to swing for the fences with one, and we were fortunate to get this one.”
It won't be the first time trainer Delgado has sent a 3-year-old maiden winner out to face graded stakes company. Previously, the Venezuelan transplant has done so with Majesto, second in the G1 Florida Derby to Nyquist in 2016; with Bodexpress, still a maiden when second to Maximum Security in the 2019 Florida Derby; and last year, O Captain finished third in the G2 Fountain of Youth in his third career start.
With just the one win under his belt, Mage is admittedly the lightest-raced colt Delgado has sent out in a graded stakes contest. He faces a tough field including last year's champion juvenile, Forte, as well as Grade 1 winner Blazing Sevens, both making their first starts of 2023.
“Gustavo is an amazing trainer who I don't think has gotten his flowers,” said Restrepo. “If you're ever gonna take on two Mike Tysons, why not take a shot when they're coming off a big layoff?”
Hear the full interview on the Nick Luck Daily Podcast.
The post Ramiro Restrepo Confident As Maiden Winner Mage Takes On ‘Two Mike Tysons’ In Fountain Of Youth appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
