Kentucky Derby winner Mage will make his next start in this Saturday's Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park, trainer Gustavo Delgado, Sr. announced on Twitter Tuesday. The 3-year-old son of Good Magic is being pointed to the G1 Travers at the end of the summer season at Saratoga; the Haskell will be the “prep run” for that goal.
Mage has not started since finishing third in the G1 Preakness Stakes on May 20. The colt, owned by OGMA Investments LLC, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing LLC, and CMNWLTH, boasts a record of two wins, a second, and a third from five career starts for earnings of $2,288,700.
“Our summer goal since the Preakness was run, for us personally, has always been the Travers (at Saratoga on Aug. 26),” said Restrepo. “We were thinking about the best way to get to the Travers. The Haskell falls five weeks out and gives us an opportunity to come back in a strong race against a solid field – and against some of the best 3-year-olds in the country.
“We're excited for the opportunity to get him back in action.”
Mage, unraced at 2, will be making his fourth straight start in Grade 1 company in the Haskell.
“He had a great break after the Preakness – 17 days of no saddle and no racetrack,” said Restrepo. “The break was good for him.
“We've only had three works since then. The weather played a role in that. But it's time to get the train started again. Three works for this race is not ideal but we've got to get the ball rolling.”
Mage will ship in from Kentucky tomorrow, Restrepo said.
“We're pleased to have the opportunity to race in historically famous races with a lot of tradition and to be part of race at a beautiful setting like Monmouth Park,” he said.
Javier Castellano has the mount.
Other 3-year-olds expected to start in the Haskell are Tapit Trice (Todd Pletcher), Awesome Strong (Jorge Delgado), Geaux Rocket Ride (Richard Mandella), Arabian Knight (Bob Baffert), Howgreatisnate (Elizabeth Dobles), Salute the Stars (Brad Cox), and Extra Anejo (Steve Asmussen).
Post positions will be drawn at noon on Wednesday, July 19.
The 56th edition of the $1 million Haskell Stakes headlines a 14-race card that includes the Grade 1, $600,000 United Nations at a mile and three-eighths on the turf and three Grade 3 stakes – the $500,000 Molly Pitcher, the $400,000 Monmouth Cup and the $300,000 WinStar Matchmaker.
The Haskell offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Breeders' Cup Classic this fall at Santa Anita Park.
After much consideration and planning Mage's summer goal of getting to the G1 Travers; we have decided to have a prep run in the G1 Haskell this weekend. pic.twitter.com/CAP6ErDt47
— Gustavo Delgado S (@GDS_Racing) July 18, 2023
The post Kentucky Derby Winner Mage To Start In Saturday’s Haskell appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
