Mage Derby Victory Brings Delgado Full Circle
The wild and wacky Kentucky Derby 149 finally is in the books, and as it turned out it wasn’t wild and wacky as much as it was written in the stars. In the end, even to the cynics who didn’t believe in a horse with only three lifetime starts, it all made perfect sense. ~ Steve Haskin
Mage Derby Victory Brings Delgado Full Circle
By Steve Haskin
Photo by Michael Clevenger and Christopher Granger/Courier Journal
It was 1971. The entire country of Venezuela was ablaze with the fire lit by a racehorse named Canonero II. The crooked-legged colt with obscure breeding who was purchased as a yearling in Kentucky for a paltry $1,200 before being sent to Venezuela had become all the rage of the racing world after his shocking victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness and the amazing journey that brought him back to the United States. Sharing in the glory was a young trainer named Juan Arias, who rose from the slums of Caracas to shine on racing’s biggest stage. Everything about his training of Canonero was unconventional, including going into the colt’s stall each morning and asking him if he felt like training that day. Between Arias and his ugly duckling colt they were the laughing stock of Churchill Downs, until they became one of the sport’s greatest and most popular heroes, paving the way for racing’s golden decade of the ‘70s.
In Venezuela, Canonero’s jockey Gustavo Avila was carried through the streets of Caracas. Songs written about Canonero were played constantly on the radio. The building of a statue of the horse at La Rinconada Race Course was put in motion. People began naming their babies Canonero Segundo (Canonero the second). There was even a documentary made about the horse during the Triple Crown. And Juan Arias, despite not speaking English, became racing’s newest rock star. After arriving in New York for the Belmont Stakes Canonero was actually interviewed by Joe Garagiola of the “Today” show, who asked the horse questions and then held the microphone up to his face. It was a wild and crazy time for the Sport of Kings, which was now ruled by the ultimate pauper who had turned into a prince.
One 13-year-old youngster who, like everyone in Venezuela, was caught up in all the Canonero pandemonium was Gustavo Delgado, who hoped that one day he could experience such glory and accolades and stand atop the racing world with an equine hero like Canonero, who was known as the “Caracas Cannonball,” with the cries of “Viva Canonero!” resounding throughout the racing world.
Delgado eventually rose to the top of his profession in Venezuela and the Caribbean, winning numerous major races and the equivalent of three Triple Crowns. But the money was poor, as was the lifestyle in Venezuela, and with the help of his mentor and boyhood idol, he decided to set his goals much higher. That mentor was none other than Juan Arias, who had taken the young trainer under his wing. Arias had retired from training years earlier, but had fallen on hard times financially in the economy-plagued country and missed his days on the racetrack, so he returned just to be around the horses again and some of the old familiar faces. He took a liking to Delgado and actually began working for him, while teaching him at the same time. Even many years later, the memories of Canonero II and those amazing glory days still remained, not only with Arias, but Delgado, who still believed he could experience those feelings of euphoria and rise to racing’s greatest heights. But there was only one place to attain such worldwide fame and glory and that was the United States and a return to where it all began for Juan Arias — Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.
One day, Delgado told his son and assistant, Gustavo Jr., “We should go to the United States and try to win one of those.” So, with Arias’ blessing and all he had learned from the great trainer, Delgado and his family headed for the United States, where he started a small stable in 2014, winning 45 races for earnings of just over $800,000.
But it didn’t take him long to reach his destination; the place where dreams come true. In 2016 he made it to Churchill Downs after Majesto finished second in the Florida Derby only to be beaten badly in the Kentucky Derby at odds of 21-1. Then in 2019 he returned with Bodexpress, who also finished second in the Florida Derby. But he also finished far back in the Derby at odds of 71-1. Despite the two bad showings Gustavo and Gustavo Jr. were confident in their ability to get a horse to the Kentucky Derby and win. All they needed was the right horse on the right day, and with the Derby gods smiling down on them.
To interject a little personal aspect to the story, I first became aware of Delgado in January, 2020 during the Covid outbreak. Prominent owner Rick Porter, who I had known for years, called and asked me to find him a potential Derby horse who he could purchase outright. It was obvious the horse couldn’t be owned or trained by a major player. I had just watched an Uncle Mo colt named Caracaro break his maiden at Gulfstream by six lengths in 1:35 flat for the mile and thought he had everything one looked for in a Derby horse. He was trained by Gustavo Delgado and owned by Global Thoroughbred and Top Racing, so a sale for all of the horse looked possible. I told Rick about him and he eventually got back to me and said he didn’t like the colt’s Sheets figures.
Soon after, the colt got hurt and that was the last I heard of him until he showed up six months later in the Peter Pan Stakes, getting beat a neck by Country Grammer and finishing ahead of Mystic Guide, both eventual Dubai World Cup winners. I knew then that this was a top-class colt and only an exceptional trainer could have gotten him to run such a huge race off such a long layoff. He then finished a strong second to the overwhelming Kentucky Derby favorite Tiz the Law in the Travers Stakes, run that year before the Derby. I felt off that performance he had a big shot to win the Derby, but he was injured again and retired. I was left with nothing but praise for Delgado for getting this horse so good off an injury and layoff.
The following year on August 20, 2021, Juan Arias died at the age of 83, a forlorn and forgotten hero who had helped create a legend. But he was never forgotten by Delgado, who could only mourn the loss of his friend and mentor and thank him for all he taught him.
In 2022, Gustavo Jr., who was trying to boost his career and increase his father’s presence in the hope of getting him more owners and better quality horses, and his friend Ramiro Restrepo, who was trying to make a name for himself in the bloodstock industry, joined forces and headed to Fasig-Tipton’s Timonium 2-year-old sale looking for potential runners. Gustavo Sr., now in his mid 60s, spoke little English and it was up to his son and Restrepo to get him the national exposure he deserved, and that was thorough top-class horses.
One horse who caught their eye was a chestnut son of Good Magic, who shared a barn in the Becky Thomas consignment with a highly regarded speedball by Bernardini who had torn up the track in his breeze. The Good Magic colt was also fast, breezing in :10 flat. but this was a smaller track than he was used to, starting on the turn and he had trouble changing his leads at the proper time and didn’t change them until late in the drill.
But Becky Thomas felt he was special. “He was always full of himself, just a feel-good horse,” she recalled. “He was very quick and I put one of my best riders on him. The main thing about him is that he was always a happy horse and always in his tub.”
The Bernardini colt, eventually named Hejazi, sold for a whopping $3.55 million and was sent to Bob Baffert. Then, over 200 hip numbers later, the Good Magic colt entered the ring. The auctioneer began by saying, “Hip number 592…lovely pedigree here; a colt in the ring worth a shot.” Delgado and Restrepo had a budget of $200,000. The bidding opened at $50,000 and quickly climbed to $100,000, then $150,000, and $200,000. That seemingly was it for them. The bidding stalled for a little while before picking up again at $225,000. Delgado was determined to get him and would not back down. He kept urging Restrepo to keep going. “Do not stop,” he insisted, as the bids kept climbing, but slowing down to $10,000 increments. When it hit $250,000 he had already passed his reserve and Delgado and Restrepo were going against live bids. Then $260,000, $270,000, $280,000. Still, Delgado kept pushing. “Keep going,” he said. Finally, they bid $290,000, which was followed by much welcomed silence. The hammer fell, with the auctioneer looking at them and concluding with a simple, “Thank you both.”
They had gone $90,000 over their budget and now they desperately needed to put together a partnership. They called Sam Herzberg of Sterling Racing. Herzberg had been to the Derby with a drop-dead gorgeous colt named Black Onyx, who injured himself the day before the race and was scratched Derby morning. Restrepo told him, “Sam, I just bought a horse at the Mid-Atlantic sale who I think is the best looking Good Magic in the country.” That was good enough for Herzberg, who bought in for 25 percent. Then they contacted Chase Chamberlin and Brian Doxtator of Commonwealth Sports with all their micro-shareholders and they also were in. With four partners they had their ownership.
They then sent the colt to Delgado Sr. who still trains old school and doesn’t rush his horses. After getting two months to recover from the sale he was sent to Delgado’s barn at the Kentucky Thoroughbred Training Center on Paris Pike outside Lexington, but wet weather and muddy tracks stalled the colt’s debut even further. At first, he was a bit stubborn and tough, as Becky Thomas had found out before realizing he was just playful and always wanting to go. But again once he started breezing he settled down. Finally the colt, now named Mage, meaning wizard as in magician, headed south to Gulfstream Park to Delgado’s main barn. It was assumed they would look for an easy spot for his debut, but Delgado said, “No, we’re going to run on Pegasus World Cup day,” where the competition would be much tougher. Mage responded by wiring his field by almost four lengths in a snappy 1:22 2/5 for the seven furlongs.
Knowing how good a horse this was, Delgado was confident enough in him to throw him right into the deep water against 2-year-old champion Forte in the Fountain of Youth Stakes. He needed to run in this race if he had any hopes of making it to the Kentucky Derby, even with only three lifetime starts and no starts at 2. Ironically, the first horse since 1915 to win the Derby with only three lifetime starts was Mage’s broodmare sire Big Brown. Perhaps the stars were already starting to align.
With Javier Castellano, a fellow Venezuelan, aboard for the first time in the Fountain of Youth, Mage had to go four-wide into the first turn, tracked the early pace while still wide down the backstretch, and moved three-wide on the tun to collar the leaders. Forte came charging up on his outside and quickly drew clear. But Mage kept running hard despite getting tired, finishing a solid fourth, beaten a little over two lengths for second. It was his performance that stood out in addition to the winner’s.
In the Florida Derby, Mage, with Luiz Saez aboard this time, broke slowly, as two horses came together in front of him forcing him to drop back to last in the 12-horse field. After winning on the front end and then stalking the pace, Mage now found himself at the rear of a big field with no one knowing what to expect from him. Amazingly, he put in a huge sustained run like a veteran closer and blew right by Forte on the far turn before opening a clear lead at the three-sixteenths pole. But that big early move took just enough out of him to let Forte find another gear and nail him in the closing strides. One thing Mage proved was that he could run big from anywhere on the track. And he no doubt would need that versatility in the Kentucky Derby, especially with so little racing experience.
And so it was time for Mage to leave his old Gulfstream home for the first time and take up residence in his new Kentucky home far away. But little did anyone know that he would be residing in perhaps the most hallowed structure at Churchill Downs next to the Twin Spires. And that is Barn 42, which housed the legendary Secretariat when he began the most iconic Triple Crown journey in history. On this 50th Anniversary of Big Red’s Derby triumph, once again, the stars seemed to be aligned.
When Derby Day arrived and it was time for the famed walkover, Mage put a scare into his handlers when he reared straight up in the air a couple of times. Becky Thomas, watching at home, could only smile and think, “Yep, that’s Mage, still the same feel-good, happy-go-lucky colt always looking for action.” But as usual he settled right down when it was time to get down to business.
In the Derby, Mage once again broke slowly and dropped far back, but this time would have to negotiate his way through, inside, or outside an 18-horse field with Javier Castellano back in the saddle. One horse he didn’t have to worry about was Forte, who was scratched the morning of the race with a slight foot bruise. Castellano was able to get Mage out in the clear before circling the entire field some seven-wide. He took command from a game Two Phil’s leaving the eighth pole and powered his way to a one-length victory. Delgado had his much coveted Derby victory and did it with a fellow Venezuelan, still searching for his first Derby victory.
No one was beaming with more pride than Gustavo Jr. “My dad grew up in a generation where everybody was talking about Canonero and he always felt as if he could accomplish that,” he said.
Castellano, who like Delgado is from Maracaibo Venezuela, was overwhelmed after the race. Once one of the great go-to riders in the country, he has won many major races, riding titles, and Eclipse Awards, but the Kentucky Derby has eluded him and he no longer gets the kind of mounts he used to. And that is why he is so grateful to the entire Mage team for giving him this opportunity.
“When I was in the jockey’s room before the race and NBC put ‘0‑for-15 Javier Castellano’ on the screen, in that moment, it give me so much inspiration,” he said. “And I kept thinking this is the year. I’m going to break the losing streak this year and I’m going to win the race. I felt a lot of confidence in myself. I have been describing the race to everyone and that is the way I have been dreaming it for many years.”
But it wasn’t only the horsemen, owners, and bettors who celebrated Mage’s 15-1 victory. It was also the many micro shareholders who now own a piece of a Kentucky Derby winner through their involvement with Commonwealth. One such person is Debra Krzastek, who watched the race at Monmouth Park.
“I can’t believe it,” she said. “This horse came available last December in one of their offerings and all I could think of when I saw the name Mage was my mom, whose name was Marge. It was her name minus one letter. Things like this don’t happen to me. I also heard that Mage was in the same barn as Secretariat 50 years ago, so I bought a Secretariat hoodie and wore it at Monmouth. I was so astonished when he won my mouth was wide open the rest of the night.”
But to many fans and horseplayers going into the race, having only three career starts still made Mage a big question mark with his lack of experience. However, no one knew about the seeds that Juan Arias had planted inside Gustavo Delgado, especially getting horses to do things most people believe they can’t do. How could a horse who traveled to the U.S. on a plane with chickens and ducks and then had to spend 72 hours in quarantine in Florida, losing over 70 pounds, van over 1,000 miles and almost 17 hours to Louisville, arriving one week before the Derby, then come from the back of a 20-horse field to win going away with ease? And how could he come back two weeks later, go head and head with the speedy Florida Derby winner Eastern Fleet though rapid factions and put him away before drawing clear at the finish, running the fastest Preakness in history?
Perhaps the same way a horse could win a fast sprint on the lead, then make arguably the most explosive move on the far turn seen in a long time, and finally come from 16th to win the Kentucky Derby.
Gustavo Delgado and Juan Arias at La Rinconada. Photo courtesy of Salomon Gill
An emotional Gustavo Delgado said after the race while looking up to the sky, “Juan (Arias) was with me at all times.” Salomon Gill, a Venezuelan-born movie producer living in Los Angeles, who produced a beautifully made documentary on Canonero and has been trying for years to make a full-length movie about the horse, said after the Derby, “As a Venezuelan I feel very proud and joyful. In a way I see Juan’s hand in all this. It was just so sad that he died extremely poor and didn’t get to see Gustavo rejoice at Churchill Downs the way he did 52 years earlier.”
But Arias not only left an indelible legacy through Canonero, he left another through Gustavo Delgado. And this is Delgado’s time to shine and bask in the spotlight he once dreamed of as a youngster – standing in the winner’s circle of the Kentucky Derby with a very special horse who was defying history and showing the world that Venezuelan horsemen are among the best in the world.
The cries that accompanied Canonero wherever he went have been silent for over half a century…until now.
“Viva Mage!”
Racing historian, author, and award-winning retired journalist for the Daily Racing Form and The Blood-Horse, Steve Haskin was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame’s Media Roll of Honor in 2016. Known for his racing knowledge and insightful prose, he has been an exclusive contributor to Secretariat.com since 2020.
According to David Grening at DRF, it’s looking like Mage will face no Derby runners in the Preakness. That would be a new low (in more ways than one) in at least the past 50 years. The 1980 and 2008 runnings of the Preakness each had just two Derby entries, including the Derby winners.
Steve,
Is there any hope of salvaging the Triple Crown as a series by moving the Preakness to the first Saturday in June and the Belmont to either July 4 or the first Saturday in July? This is the only way most trainers today will enter their horses in all three races unless a Kentucky Derby winner is going for the Triple Crown.
A points system for the three races, with extra money at stake, would encourage participation in all three races.
The Preakness really has to reach for entries by giving automatic berths to winners of obscure races. In few recent years has the Preakness looked like a genuine Grade 1 race, let alone a classic. Of course this was all very different when I was growing up.
Thanks,
David
There’s been two Triple Crown winners, in the past eight TC’s….
The lasix ban should help…..lasix can wipe a horse out, this year there were two top contenders out with fevers, and one top contender with a foot bruise…actually Mage, National Treasure, Blazing Sevens, First Mission, Perform not too shabby….
Matthew, that’s an argument IN FAVOR of enticing connections to enter their horses in all three races. Do we want the TC to be easy to accomplish, or do we want the best 3yos in training to run in all three races?
With 20 horses in the Derby…a race two weeks later and then a 12 furlong race, with several who skipped the middle leg. I’d say it’s harder, much harder to win the TC today— than when Secretariat beat 12 in the Derby…5 in the Preakness…4 in the Belmont….
Two TC winners within 4 years (’15 & ’18) should tell us it’s not as difficult as the 1979-2014 period.
I whole-heartedly d I Sagres but that’s what makes Horse Racing the king of sports, there’s room for opinions, which are many..
Secretariat beat the same horses three times…..Mage will be facing fresh horses in all three races…
David D, there was a point system for the Triple Crown ($1 mil bonus) in the ’80s and ’90s. I don’t recall why it was discontinued.
I’d be in favor of adding a week between the three races (i.e., 3 weeks from KD to Preakness, 4 weeks from Preakness to Belmont).
Roberta, in October, 1986 the tracks that host the Triple Crown races announced they will pay $5 million to a horse who sweeps the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes. A year later Chrysler sponsored the $5 million Triple Crown Bonus… No one ever won the total bonus. There were variable bonuses though for winning parts of the Triple Crown races. Chrysler ended the sponsorship in 1996. Visa took over the $5 million sponsorship in 1997 and ended it in 2005. From there is too much to right about it. Ha ha
Write about not right about. Just got out of bed. Lol, no coffee yet.
Yes, the $1 mil bonus to which I referred was for the 3-race horse with the most points (if no TC winner). Well, at least they tried!
That’s because of the two Derby winners Gato Del Sol and Spend a Buck not running in the Preakness—-Horse Racing “needs” the Derby winner in the Preakness. …..
Sometimes the winner comes from one of those obscure races. Golden Gate Fields’ El Camino Real Derby is not on most people’s radar, yet its 2021 winner, Rombauer, took the Preakness that year.
Speaking of beautiful red horses, is there a better turf stayer in the US–than Red Knight? Peaking, at age nine, brings back memories of John Henry….
What a great story about Mage. I was so happy for that horse and the jockey. Reading your story makes it even better. It was a beautiful race. I haven’t seen whether or not he going on to the Preakness, it will be so interesting to watch. Thank you for providing the information, I found it fitting that he was in the same stable as Secretariat.
Thank you Barbara. Mage definitely is running in the Preakness.
Happy Mother’s Day to Joan and Mandy and all you Moms out there!
Thank you very much, Lynda.
HISA will be doing a thorough independent investigation of recent horse deaths at Churchill Downs. This information is from May 12th, The Blood Horse Magazine.
I hope so. it was 9, right. That is tragic.
Thanks again Steve for such an inspiring and uplifting story about Mage and his connections to Canonero II and to Venezuela and to South America. A higher power was at work in this year’s Kentucky Derby. Why else would Mage be the only runner to be in Secretariat’s barn (#42) for the Derby? What a win for small breeders, a trainer with a boutique barn, for the great tradition of old school Venezuelan trainers, jockeys, and horsemen. It’s a win for a small 15 hand horse, when much larger thoroughbreds are popular in the breeding shed. The late Marylou Whitney had to give away breeding seasons to her small stallion Birdstone in spite of his being a winner in the Belmont; I would look forward to seeing her and her birdies during their winter visit to Gulfstream; I am still a fan of her horses.
Thanks Terri. Only the Kentucky Derby produces stories such as these.
You are most welcome. It is wonderful stories like this that keeps horse racing alive. With all of it’s faults and flaws, hopefully it will survive. It’s survival depends on leadership of it’s angels who were the Queens of Horseracing: Penny Chenery, Queen Elizabeth II, and Marylou Whitney. Barbara Banke is the current Queen and she has exerted a positive influence on the Sport of Kings and Queens. Isn’t it interesting that the Coronation of King Charles III occurred on the First Saturday of May. Queen Elizabeth II visited Kentucky several times and visited our Equine Royalty.
Barbara Banke deserves enormous credit for refusing ever to breed Rachel Alexandra after she almost died foaling. Ms. Banke sacrificed millions of dollars to protect the health and safety of her horse. She definitely did not act out of greed and love of money.
I would also include Allaire du Pont on the list of Queens of Horseracing. She too loved her horses and she did a lot of work to promote thoroughbred welfare and aftercare. When she was in the winner’s circle with Kelso every few weeks, she always left spectators with a wonderful impression of the sport and its people.
Sure! Disgrace manner in which she was raced. Cooked!
Jiffy, Thanks for reminding me of Allaire du Pont and her important work for retired thoroughbreds. When Kelso retired, she also rode him. They had a special bond.
Something you will read in a future Frankie Dettori autobiography is that he could have had the mount of Mage but he decided to go for the 2000 Guineas with Chaldean.
Seems like the gods of Fortune are accompanying him where ever he goes in his farewell year.
BTW the legendary Jockey is named to ride Henry Q in the Peter Pan Stakes this Saturday… we will likely see another masterful ride with a horse who needs to lead from the get-go to win….curious to see how he handles the super fast Bishops Bay to his right.
Slip Mahoney is cross entered in the Peter Pan (at 4/1 ML) and in the 1 Mile-70Yard-Long Branch S. at Monmouth af 5/2 ML. Joel Rosario is called to ride him at Belmont .
Arcangelo (Arrogate-Modeling by Tapit) is an intriguing one after winning at Gulfstream in an spectacular 1:34 2/5 for the mile. He is the only one I can see running in the Belmont Stakes as the others are mainly speed horses or milers unless Go Soldier Go takes advantage of his FOUR one and 3/16-mile races at Dubai and wins convincingly with Flavian Prat up…
But no serious Belmont Stakes horse seems to be emerging from the historic race this year…
The connections of Go Soldier Go must have high expectations for the Belmont Stakes it will be interesting to see how he performs here. Hopefully, Frankie will be riding at ParisLongchamp on Sunday.
Good pick with Arcangelo in the Peter Pan Stakes, Nelson, and you’re right that: “[Arcangelo] is the only [you] can see running the Belmont Stakes”. By the way, have you decided on a colt for the Epsom Derby yet? I’m warming to Arrest after his win the Chester Vale with Frankie Dettori aboard. Certainly would bring the house down should Frankie manages to pull it off.
Hi Davids….I am waiting for the May 18 Dante Stakes to have a better idea of Godolphin’s chances in the Epsom Derby.
Like Arrest, Military Order is a son of Frankel who will cherish the distance. The Godolphin colt is also half brother to Adayar … it would be nice to see another son of Anna Salai (Dubawi) winning the Epsom Derby .. and Charlie Appleby trying to end O’Brien’s rule on the race.
I am not sure the other Godolphin prospect (Flying Honours) will be ready for the big race though… but we shall see how the Dante comes up this Thursday…
Good luck in the Dante, Nelson. I like George Strawbridge’s colt, Epictetus, trained by the Gosdens with Frankie piloting. Rain expected on Tuesday at York but it’s fine on Wednesday and Thursday.
He is a good one… they said he will run the Epsom or go to Chantilly for the Prix du Jockey Club depending of his performance in the Dante.
CORRECTION: Military Order won the Fitzdares Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes yesterday and his next race will be the Epsom Derby.
Flying Honours is the one most likely running in the Dante…
All I can say is that Lynda – you are right….just another pass for a someone with dirt on their hand not name Baffert.
More whining as usual.
This Sunday at ParisLongchamp the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas); Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French 1,000 Guineas) will be run.
For the colts, American Flag, Isaac Shelby, and Paddington seem to be the top chances. Allez, Paddington!!
In the Pouliches, Blue Rose Cen. Lindy, and Never Ending Story are the favored fillies. Allez, Lindy!!
Dimanche, sera ensoleillé à Paris exquis.
Escape to Paris for a few hours…
Paddington staying home for the May 27 Irish 2,000 Guineas.
The son of Siyouni could be facing Auguste Rodin, Cairo, and Chaldean at the Curragh.
Paddington and Chaldean are brilliant milers and will be delivering a great show for sure. The experience at the Curragh may help Paddington.. but I am still feel Chaldean is well ahead every other rival so far.
Nelson, although entered for the May 27 Irish 2,000 Guineas, Auguste Rodin, will, for sure, run in the Epsom Derby on June 3, 2023. I’m really looking forward to the clash between Chaldean and Paddington but the answer may lay in the going. If it’s good to hard I’d say Chaldean has an advantage but good to soft Paddington for sure. The Siyouni line relish soft going which others are not as affective on that type of going.
The forecast for Kildare on May 26 & 27 is for rain.
Marhaba Ya Sanafi upsets Isaac Shelby, second, and American Flag, fourth, in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains while Blue Rose Cen and Lindy clock in first and second in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, while Never Ending Story was fifth. Lindy might be even better in the Prix de Diane at 2,100 metres (French Oaks). ParisLongchamp looked in good condition on video. Excellent racing at the highest racing.
Neither Bob nor Todd deserve our backing, Bob seemed to throw care to the wind, about overages, and face it—unless someone leaked the Forte positive to the NY Times we still would not know about a September infraction, in mid May, of the following year, making me wonder how many more, do we not know about? Was it the one time Forte and Emmanuel positives? Or are their others, that await another leak, for us to realize? Secrets and lies…..
Matthew, what I hate the most in these controversies is that the trainers with impeccable records/reputations are besmirched, tarred with the same brush, by the grubbiness of others and it’s not just unique to the US either.
I sometimes wonder how hall of famers like Nick Zito and Leroy Jolley end their careers on such a low point. I doubt they forgot how to train. Maybe they were unable or unwilling to keep up?
It runs the same ways as film stars. In film, if a star actor is in an expensively made film that flops at the the box office then producers don’t want to take a risk with that actor the next time around. Horse trainers are in a similar situation. It’s not the past that counts, it’s what your record is now – both milieus thrive on constant success but don’t ever fail, not once.
Todd, Nick Zito was a very successful trainer. He started from the bottom, first working as a groom.I do not think that being unable or unwilling to keep up is a fair assessment.
Nick like Shug and a couple of other trainers always put the horse first. Over the course of his career he had one horse that was accused of failing a drug test. The NYRA suspended his training license for 15 days and fined him $2000. The medication in question was a topical anesthetic that was safe for children.
Perhaps a more fair assessment of Mr Zito is that he never fell into that trap of using whatever methods necessary including doping to satisfy the owners.
He has said as trainers it is our responsibility to take care of these horses and treat them humanely.
He and his wife are very well known as an advocate for the humane treatment for both active and retired racehorses and works with two nationally known foundations.
The mindset of many (not all of course) owners since the late 80’s has been to win at any and all costs. Bragging rights around the water cooler on Monday morning are more important than the welfare of the horse. The horse has become a disposable commodity in that sense.
I think many of you would be shocked at the number of Thoroughbreds that are sold for slaughter right off the tracks by trainers who are given orders by the owners to get rid of the horse amd get him one that will win.
Might I suggest you follow Maggie Moss. She is one of the most concientious owners around and she has saved the lives of dozens of horses, some of whom were loaded on the kill trucks with new racing plates and their bridles on.
Every year thousands of Thoroughbreds are sold for slaughter for what amounts to pennies on the dollar because they did win races.
Some of the big breeding farms sell their pensioned broodmares for slaughter.
What the vet did to Laoban was despicable and all she got was a 90 day suspension. The big breeding farm kept her on the payroll and she still works there. You can look it up and learn the name of that big breeding farm.
Steve’s comment sums it all up perfectly: “Yes there is greed everywhere but I remember when the sport was ruled by sportsmen who always put the sport and the horses first. Now the sport is much more complicated and business oriented and we are unable to regulate it.”
Edit: because they did NOT win races
For a short time, I used to buy and sell from the farm auction in Woodburn, Oregon, I’d go check things out on Tuesday, then the auction was Wednesday…..as I waited, I would go check out the livestock, and there often were Thoroughbreds, from the small tracks at Salem, and Portland….I’d bring carrots and apples, and talk to them….teary eyed….I knew their fate….some nice animals, I tried to offer a moment of pleasure, for them… those 14 horse fields of geldings, at Hong Kong….have a similar fate, I fear….
Well done, Matthew. It’s hard to keep one’s hands clean and exist in the world, but small things matter. I wonder if Steve thinks we are getting a little off track here, but for many of us there are concerns about the consequencies of feeding the sport for our enjoyment.
It’s called pure evil to allow slaughterhouses….or catastrophic breakdowns to happen to horses who were forcibly bred for GREED. Sport….is participants who are capable of verbally consenting to partake in. Jay Privman once said it’s never been about the racing….it’s always been about making money off of breeding.
Agreed!
Thank you, Lynda, for your post on slaughter and racehorses. It is quite common and a real tragedy given the number of rescue/rehoming groups available in almost every state. I’ve seen stakes winning horses sold for slaughter in the notes on Pedigree Query. Thankfully, I also see many, many notes about horses who were rescued at the 11th hour by a rescue organization or simply a person who loves and respects thoroughbreds. We need to do more to protect these equine athletes.
There is a story…about a mare who won graded stakes races and had many foals….she was put on a trailer, with cattle—bound fir the slaughter sakes…she fell en route, and was so thoroughly cut up the guy refused to sell her, so a man took her home and nursed her back to life, I think she is still alive, in her late 20s now Canadian bred, her story is out there ….
Her name is Press Exclusive….ran lots and foaled nine…was unrecognizable when she got to the slaughter sale. ….she was saved, by beautiful persons, I think she might still be alive…
An elderly couple I met at the track told me this story, they made a sort of pilgrimage to go see her…I think in New York but not certain….they both broke down in flowing tears when they led the grand mare up to see them, having seen the awful pictures, of a horse that was deemed too poor for slaughter sale….and there have been many who have come to visit her….
Yes there are a number of organizations that save as many OTTBs as they can.
These organizations exist because of donations and volunteers. They do not make any money off the sales of the horses.
The cost to rehabilitate, health care and surgeries such as for bone chips cost a lot of money.
I consider them to be true heroes. They work tirelessly in a thankless job and truly dedicated and devoted to the horses, donkeys, burros and mules.
There is one about 40 miles from me who takes in not only horses but other equine, goats, cows, chickens, dogs and cats as well.
I think I need some clarification concerning your post, Lynda.
What owners have given trainers the orders to send their horses to slaughter?
Which big breeding farms sell their pensioned broodmares for slaughter?
Just curious…..
David
DTG, I cannot divulge names because I know someone who has a rescue/rehab/rehabilitate Thoroughbred rescue in another state who actively rescues as many as they can.
You should never make accusations like these without being able to back it up.
Very disappointing.
This site is rapidly going down hill. I used to love Steve’s Derby run down each and every week, but I am finished with this site.
Keep up the excellent work, Steve.
Good luck to everyone in the coming races.
I’m Out!
Sorry if my remark about being unwilling or unable to keep up was misunderstood. I meant that as a compliment to Nick’s character.
One was better with people, than he was with horses. The other, reverse is true. If you could survey the backstretch, especially NY, you could get many examples. The media often falls for trainers, since it allows them access. Often not a true evaluation.
Good points
Pletcher suspended for 10 days, $1000 fine.
Forte DQ’d from Hopeful.
Why is it the horse gets the brunt of this?
Has anyone had a worse week than Forte? Suffers foot bruise, scratched by state vets the morning of the Derby, has the horse he beat twice win the Derby, is put on the vets list and not allowed to run in the Preakness, is discovered to have had a positive drug test in the Hopeful Stakes eight months earlier, is disqualified from the Hopeful. Talk about a bad week
Speaking horsewise, it has been an awful week for Forte.
His record will forever be tarnished by this.
I cannot help but think about Medina Spirit.
Now Rich Strike is caught up in more drama.
All these horses want to do is what they were bred to do…race to the best of their ability and run the best they have in them.
Sigh…
Forte is healthy and should race again. He’s used up his bad luck allotment, for at least the next 20 years. Animals are the best, humans can’t hold a candle to them.
Yes, it’s been a very bad week for Forte and, to a lesser degree, for all his fans. But I don’t think his record will be forever tarnished. This issue will not affect his two-year-old title, it will not affect the tapes of the Hopeful that show his performance, it will not affect all the other stakes that he’s won, it will not affect his stud fees, it will not affect the mares he attracts, and presumably it will not affect his future races. Yes, there will be an asterisk or notation in the record books, but most people don’t read the record books. And in light of his other accomplishments, it won’t make a lot of difference whether he won the Hopeful or not. If this had happened in the Kentucky Derby, it would be different–we still remember Dancer’s Image–but a disqualification in a two-year-old event eight months after the fact is not likely to be remembered by many a few decades from now. I’m much more concerned about his missing the Triple Crown races, which I believe he would be winning.
Cute, you’re so right. He’s the innocent one, and is recovered from the slight bruise and happy as he usually is, per Pletcher. He better get his workouts in for the Belmont stakes, that’s a tough distance.
I don’t think Pletcher or Repole did anything wrong. Trying to be discrete is now taken as hiding something. Transparent is what you want other people to be, not yourself. Red tape is its own industry, and is suited to the age of the automaton we seem to be living in.
The NY Gaming Commission is at fault, for not being able to find a lab for 4 months, unbelievable, human blood test results arrive same day in the Boston area, admittedly a place with a lot of medical professionals. The sample got contaminated in the lab or the equipment they used wasn’t clean.
I am with you Discopartner. Given the infinitesimal amounts they are talking about and the time those samples are “wandering around” suggest contamination…. saying it again>>>> contamination.
This holier-than-thou attitude by the “regulators” will bring a lot of litigations before they come to their senses. Rather than tarnishing Hall of Fame reputations those people are just showing superb ignorance of scientific facts.
BTW Discopartner, I read your comments in another mucky blog and I commend you for valiantly standing up to that bunch of trolls disguised as commenters.
Thank you Nelson. I’m a little dubious of Pletcher’s management, not about mistreating horses or flouting the law, but knowing the rules and being wise about how it would play out in public, being able to make a choice when there are no good choices.
It seems like horse racing had good and abundant rules all these decades, but didn’t have the facilities or the right people to enforce them, with access to testing labs, etc. They do have rules though.
I hope Forte is able to run and win again. At least he’s unaware of the fuss.
The horses who died had a worse week.
You sure nailed this story with that response. I feel very bad for Forte. He is still a champion in my book.
I will only say that there was an investigation 11 or 12 years ago concerning his filly Life At Ten. Don’t think anything came of it. Big time horsemen have a way of sheltering themselves from harm. Some of them do anyway.
I don’t care for Repole at all, he is way to over the top for me.
It is always the poor horses that suffer thanks to greedy & insensitive humans.
Old school thinkers & dinosaurs like myself don’t fit in todays racing world.
The Derby is no longer the Derby I grew up loving…….
I will always appreciate writers like Steve who keep this interesting & alive.
Just another chapter in the ongoing book about the shame found in horse racing.
Guardian dot com 5 05 2023 secretariat-kentucky-derby-triple-crown-horse-racing
Steve, very nice article about Secretariat and Ron on The Guardian website.
Very interesting, never knew the backstory on how Ron got into horse racing.
He also talks about how intelligent Secretariat was and how he (Secretariat) never fought him, that he always listened to him (Ron). He spoke more about his mental abilities than his physical attributes.
Eric Reed is no longer the trainer of Rick Strike. Sounds like a dispute with the owner.
Tha
That is so sad for the horse when the owner switches trainers after a dispute. Rich Strike is bonded to the exercise rider and to the people working in the stable. I hope that Richy bonds with the new connections. And Jimmy Jerkens, who is adept at handling difficult horses, isn’t even an option as he is going off to Saudi Arabia.
Saw a photo of one of his handlers telling him goodbye and that he would miss him.
Too many tears, Terri, just too many tears.
I’m not sure any of the principles, jockey, owner, trainer have aquitted themselves well since getting the roses. Be careful what you wish for? The Pearl? Hoping Rich Strike will be handled within whatever his limitations are now.
Sadly, it sounds like it was a dispute over rights to the proposed documentary by Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions on Reed and Richie. Apparently, the owners took umbrage.
Looks like they wanted to do a story about the trainer and his father, and of course the horse factors into his story—as the trainer related to the horse—that he trained to win the Kentucky Derby—-it seems like that should be OK, I don’t see how the owner has a case against such a story, unless Reid says things about the colts soundness issues, but he trained that longshot and they won a terrific Derby—that story deserves to be told..
At thoroughbredracingDOTcom:
“France Galop has increased the maximum field size for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe to 24 from 20 in the wake of last year’s eliminations, of which Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant was the highest-profile casualty.”
Roberta, you don’t want to be wider than the 12 post already. Imagine being post 24. Money.
28 would be even more $$$$. That’s next, I guess.
Yes the stars were aligned.. secretariats stall and gate 8. We all remember the magic eight ball.. mage is magical for certain and I hope the racing gods are with us all in Baltimore… who knows, one can dream I also was in the winners circle with the wonderful Commonwealth Group. Let’s keep this ride alive. In the magic carpet ride!
Steve Haskin, I tried to write to the Jockey Club but to no avail. They won’t even stand up for their own rules. When they suggested that everyone follow the breeding limits established by Claiborne Farm, other farms did not want to listen. Consequently, there were no new rules imposed. Claiborne Farm and Adena Springs, now in Canada, impose breeding limits and don’t allow their stallions to have multiple breeding seasons in one year. That’s why so many of their stallions can stand for so long.
Why can’t a small percentage of the sale price of a horse (0.05%-0.3%) be saved for each horse’s retirement? Again, I had no response. This is madness, that owners pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for a thoroughbred who maybe run a few years; most of their life is spent in retirement and no funds are directed towards retirement at the time of sale.
The Jockey Club is able to take over ownership of race tracks such as Arlington, Hollywood Park, and Calder but they won’t exercise this option. It’s a disgrace that Arlington Park is going to be a football stadium. There there is no longer any horse racing at Pompano Beach or at Hialeah. Hialeah had match races between two quarter horses.
The Jockey Club is still the Old Boys Club it was when the late Penny Chenery was alive. They are toothless old men.
The doomsday clock for Thoroughbred Horse Racing in the United States is ticking slowly but definitely towards midnight.
It will not matter the field size in the Derby because the Derby will cease to exist.
Between Climate Change advocates, failure to establish a centralized governing body; extreme animal rights activist groups; inbreeding generation after generation within the bloodlines that go back to Native Dancer; the drug culture that is rampant in the sport; the cookie cutter training methods rhat are employed keeping these horses standing in stalls 22 out of 24 hours a day and the loss of stamina lines that go back to the Godolphin and a gene pool that is for all intents and purposes is 96% closed as the result of over breeding to the Darley, the hand writing that is on the wall can no longer be ignored.
Add to this list the over breeding to popular stallions, the racetrack closings, municipalities chomping at the bit for prime real estate like Aqueduct, Santa Anita and Gulfstream and the “Amazonation” of the small breeding farms and training stables and injecting a young promising stallion with the Black Shot concocted with drugs that expired ten years ago and all the vet getting is a 90 days suspension.
The real problems here are not the Bob Bafferts, the Todd Pletchers, the Linda Rices or the Saffies, it is the failures of the sport, the industry and the greed for speed and money that has existed since the 1980’s.
Several people made a lot of fun about the 3 horses from Japan. But guess what, the Japanese will soon take the Crown away from the United States. Their trainers are limited to a certain number of horses they can have in training.
All of the vets ate employed by the racing commission. If a horse bleeds during a race they cannot race for 6 months.
If they bleed again, they can no longer race. Trainers are asked to retire at a certain age. Jockeys have to go through an extensive 3 year apprenticeship program and trainers go through a similar program before they can get a license.
The horses do not train on the same tracks as they race. The Japanese did a 20 year study on the safety of racetracks and made changes to reduce injuries.
There have been numerous other studies that these American horses can lose up to half of their bone density (calcium) 120 days into their training that cannot be replaced by brand walking or walking on hot walkers; only by brief 1/8 mile fast gallops on a regular basis.
Colts sired by these tall, heavy stallions more often than not have to have surgery for bone chips before they are a year old and taken to auction. They eventually develop osteo-arthritis that bring an end to their careers before they are 4 years old.
Other countries are using monitors that measure heart rate, blood pressure during workouts that can indicate a sudden cardiac arrest before it happens.
I have no sympathy for these trainers, these race track owners, most of these big breeding farms .My heart breaks for the grooms and caretakers and the small breeder. I know all to well how much it hurts to watch a horse struggle to rise and a decision made to let them go with a syringe filled with blue death. I know too well what it feels like to hold the head of dying horse in your lap and stroke them gently and speak to them softly in hopes the fear leaves their eyes and the eyes close peacefully as they take that one last breath before joining the Heavenly Herd.
I have lived this sport since I was 5 years old, but I find myself no longer being able to watch much less enjoy horse racing in the United States.
The price being paid by these horses has become too costly in tears and heartaches.
Very sad and depressing post, but in many ways true. I will be touching on some of these issues in my next column.
Lynda: To echo Steve this was a very sad & depressing post. I was 6 years old when I saw Swaps win the Santa Anita Derby. So like you i have been around horse racing all my life. I have witnessed break downs on the track, at Santa Anita I saw Alvaro Pineda die in the starting gate when his mount reared up. Unfortunately death takes no holidays for all species of life. Much of what you said is very depressing but for me I still choose to =look at the bright side of the sport.
Yes we can say that greed is rampant in all walks of life. I don’t think any profession is void of any criminal activity. Look at our politicians nationwide. My nature is to stay positive and look for the best in everyone.
One thing you said that really is true, “horse racing needs a governing body”. Too many big egos out there for that to happen though.
Bravo Deacon. So well said. I still try to think positive and look for the human interest stories that fuel the sport. I can never get used to horse deaths and the rare jockey deaths and permanent injuries. But I just cant desert the sport that gave me life. I will be writing about the Japanese who Lynda said will become the dominant force to which I have to agree. Yes there is greed everywhere but I remember when the sport was ruled by sportsmen who always put the sport and the horses first. Now the sport is much more complicated and business oriented and we are unable to regulate it.
Your response was very well put, I totally agree. The Kentucky Derby for example, we all know almost 25% to 30% of the horses don’t belong in the race. A 20 horse field is just asking for a catastrophe. It is IMO not if, but when.
You have written stuff about this before, I listened & I agree, meaning we need a governing body. Like you I love the back stories. My dad knew many trainers & horsemen. He would take me back to the barn areas where I could see these horses up close. I got to meet a few jockeys & pet a few horses.
I remember seeing Terry’s Secret, Seaneen, First Landing, Round Table & Silver Spoon. That left an impression on me. So yeah I understand where Lynda is coming from but I choose, like you to remain positive. There is enough negativity in the world.
Lastly, My dad told me that the hardest & most shocking thing he ever witnessed was when George Wolfe died on the race track at Santa Anita. Death is everywhere, father time is undefeated.
I just love reading your stories, I will never stop reading them.
Steve Haskin, I tried to write to the Jockey Club but to no avail. They won’t even stand up for their own rules. When they suggested that everyone follow the breeding limits established by Claiborne Farm, other farms did not want to listen. Consequently, there were no new rules imposed. Claiborne Farm and Adena Springs, now in Canada, impose breeding limits and don’t allow their stallions to have multiple breeding seasons in one year. That’s why so many of their stallions can stand for so long.
Why can’t a small percentage of the sale price of a horse (0.05%-0.3%) be saved for each horse’s retirement? Again, I had no response. This is madness, that owners pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for a thoroughbred who maybe run a few years; most of their life is spent in retirement and no funds are directed towards retirement at the time of sale.
The Jockey Club is able to take over ownership of race tracks such as Arlington, Hollywood Park, and Calder but they won’t exercise this option. It’s a disgrace that Arlington Park is going to be a football stadium. There there is no longer any horse racing at Pompano Beach or at Hialeah. Hialeah had match races between two quarter horses.
The Jockey Club is still the Old Boys Club it was when the late Penny Chenery was alive. They are toothless old men.
Lynda, i think your post is totally appropriate. Your technical knowledge far exceeds mine, but i can’t disagree with any of your conclusions, except Japanese style regulations being the answer. Corruption is so deeply rooted in all of our institutions that i have no faith in any rules being fairly applied. I have attempted earlier in my life, on a few occasions, to start a career on the backstretch. Now i’m glad i never stuck with it. I don’t have the heart, or heartlessness, to play the game as it is.I am not naive; i’m sure there have always been people putting dollars before the animal, but the sportsmen of racing seem to be gone for good. Racing mirrors our culture, and there remains little in which to maintain faith there. Retreat is not the worst thing and need not be depressing. Nothing improves my outlook like watching the birds and small mammals come to the feed i’ve put out.
Very true indeed. When you go back into racing history here in the states and see how often they ran, how much weight they carried and compare to today the current state of racing is in shambles. They do not breed to improve, they breed to make money at the sale ring and then lightly race the results. Last year’s HOY only raced as many times in his career as Secretariat did as a 2 year old!
The sport here needs more training centers like Fairhill. Gallops like Newmarket. Total conditioning, not just speed works. They need to better match the mare to the stud and the stud to the mare. Limit the stud book back.
There have been improvements over the years with starting gates, and other racing equipment but if you breed for a fast but unsound horse you are going to have problems. Mubtaahij was only shod for race day and then with glue on shoes.
Regarding the Forte situation it now becomes the second failed drug test or failed drug protocol for Todd Fletcher in New York in 2022…Emmanuel the other and was scratched from the Belmont Derby I believe in July which is exactly 2 more violations/failures than Bob Baffert has ever had in NY includes vitories in 36 Grade 1 races plus 3 Belmont Stakes and around 79 total stakes races at the NY tracks.
That said, it just seems big ol’ Bob Baffert is the bogeyman of some here while others with ‘dirt’ on their hands seem to get a pass or a look the other way.
Pletcher is based in NY, he’s run thousands more horses in NY than Baffert.
Doesn’t matter how many Pletcher has ran in NY; he still has a higher percentage of positives than BB.
It certainly does matter, he’s proably run over 12,000 horses on New York tracks, he has a miniscule number of accidental overages, like this one probably was. He runs all different types and classes of horse in NY, not just stakes horses shipping in for a week. That’s an astounding record of care and all he gets on blogs is complaints and criticism. Well, guess who horse racing needs more, trainers or bloggers?
‘John’, 24/7 w/ BB. Find a new song. Jeez!
Bob has never had a New York positive but he was banned, having run hungmdreds in NY, having won 36 gr1s in NY.meanwhike they have not adjudicated a September positive, for Pletcher, and it’s May…
I get what you’re saying, Matthew. But the hold on adjudicating Forte’s case is due to procedural delays by Pletcher’s attorneys. You can’t fault the NY Gaming Commission for that.
Incredible really how the NYRA treated each differently. Will Pletcher be suspended for 2 years?
Here we go.
Sweep it under the rug?? The heck with that. California should suspend Pletcher for two years.
California is suffering from a horse shortage, there’s no way they suspend a trainer that has run clean on their tracks..
I want to point out the absurdity the NYRA decision to ban BB for two years never ever having a positive in their state. Pletcher hardly runs in CA but breeders cup races are in Del Mar? at a minimum Pletcher horses running should have the same scrutiny as BB horses had to go through. So yeah I’m all for that in CA so Pletcher is treated the same as BB
It was a one-year ban, Jeff John.
See “Forte, Once the Derby Favorite, Failed a Drug Test in September” (May 9) at NYTdotCOM
Aarrgghh!!
Well, I got 3 of 4 on the super. I did not include Mage! Two PHil’s ran a heckuva race and I was not impressed by Tapit Trice. So happy for Mage and connections, however, and thank you, Steve, for the backstory! Great stuff!
Big Brown: 3 starts before winning Derby…won the Preakness
Justify: 3 starts before winning Derby…won the Preakness (and Belmont)
Mage: 3 starts before winning Derby…(?)
GO MAGE GO!
Thanks Roberta Greevy– YES!!!
I hope that Big Brown will get a lot of classy dates in upstate New York. Let’s not forget Big Brown.
It happened 3 times in 149 years, great percentage don’t you think Roberta!!
Steve: I , too, am part of the Commonwealth Syndicate. I have asked my other share-holders, “how did we get here?”. You just spelled it out for me, and many thanks for filling in the details.
My pleasure Sandford. Congratulations
Steve, I am a micro shareholder in Mage and was blessed to be at The Derby. I love Good Magic and was thrilled to be able to buy shares in his son. Mage has taken me on the ride of a lifetime. There were so many tears of joy shed in The Winner’s Circle by trainer, jockey, owners, and family members that I am certain Juan Arias felt the emotion in Heaven. Thank you for this wonderful essay!
Congratuilations, Mary. Derby winning owner. Sounds good doesnt it?
Yes, it does, Steve!!!❤️❤️
Congratulations to all of the owners, micro and maxi, the connections, the trainers (father and son), breeders, and to the all the relatives to Mage, i.e., his dam, broodmare sire, sire, and grandsire and all of their human connections.
What a great experience! Congratulations!!!
Thank you!!!
How exciting is that? Congratulations, Mary! I think microshare partnerships are great.
Thank you!!! They are awesome!!!
Steve your writing makes me fall in love with racing all over again.After over fifty years being a racing fan and with all the problems facing the game you still help me want to stay involved in racing. I haven’t owned a horse in a few years but I think It may be time to go shopping.Blake Neely
Hi Blake your words mean a great deal to me. Thank you so much. If my words have helped keep your passion for racing alive that makes it all worthwhile.
Steve your writing makes me fall in love with racing all over again.After over fifty years being a racing fan and with all the problems facing the game you still help me want to stay involved in racing. I haven’t owned a horse in a few years but I think It may be time to go shopping.Blake Neey
thanks for info
You don’t have any idea how missed you are, you are and always will be the best writer, i solely miss yr articles thank you very much for a great story
That is so kind of you to say Henry. Thank you very much. But I have to ask you, where am I missed?. I’m still here if people know where to find me. I was hoping all the regulars from Blood Horse would have come here but we have a great core of commenters. Thanks so much for stopping by. I really appreciate it.
I placed a $10 bet on the field for Canonero’s Derby. I cannot even remember the name of the horse I liked. I made enough money off that bet to buy my son’s back to school clothes clothes that year. A big deal for a dingle mom. Thank you Steve for bringing back those memories. What a talent you have.
Thank you Sharon. That’s funny. No one remembers that field. They filled all the bottom places except Canonero.
Nice anecdote Sharon… the other horses in the field finished at the tail and their odds were $19.40 to win. Perhaps you may remember the name you liked:
Barbizon Streak
Knight Counter
Jr’s Arrowhead
Fourulla
Saigon Warrior
Fourulla? or Saigon Warrior? are my bets…LOL
I’m partial to the little horses with big personality and I didn’t find out about this aspect of Mage until it was too late. Thanks for the great story, Steve! A touching tribute to past connections and how they shaped the destiny of Mage!
And current connections also, of course!
I read Milton Toby’s biography on Canonero some time back and was saddened by his descent into near obscurity after coming so close to winning the triple. The streets of Caracas were on fire. Today I’m not sure there is a tombstone marking his plot. I certainly hope Mage’s great win will revive those memories so the Venezuelans can give him his due credit. Viva C and Viva M.
viva canonero, viva mage…
I don’t know how you do this so quickly and precisely. It’s magic to be able to piece a story together like this in the short time that you had. It’s a great story about a very deserving group that surely deserved to win. Thanks for putting this together Steve. Once again, an outstanding finish to the derby that brings all into the Mage camp. Ole! Ole! Ole!
Thanks very much. You should have seen me when we went to dinner afterward trying to think of angle. Then all at once it all fell into place . That’s how it often works.
What a wonderful story, Steve. Viva Mage!
Thank you Jerre.
I made the following comment in week 12.
Unfortunately, I am very stupid and went all in on Derma. I wish you all could have seen my face when the gates opened lol.
Demolition Derby says:
April 10, 2023 at 9:11 pm
Ice cold derby superfecta.
1. Two Phil’s
2. Derma Sotogake
3. Angel of Empire
4. Disarm
For the first time in years, Thoroughbreds competing in the Paris Olympics will be recognized by their breed and name.
In the past, breed was listed as “unknown”.
Often entries in the Olympcs Equestrian Events are OTTBs.
This is wonderful news.
Several of the competitors in the Badminton Trials that were held this past weekend had Thoroughbreds in their pedigrees.
Quite often it is Buckpasser and Sir Gaylord (out of Somethingroyal) who shows up.
That’s an incredible story; so happy for all the people involved to this story. AnD Steve thank you for being so great in many ways besides your gifted writings.
Thank you vey much Jeff. I appreciate it
Loved reading this! Great write-up!
Thank you Robin
Both this year’s Oaks and Derby winners’ dams were sold at the Fasig-Tipton sale – three hips and 10 minutes apart.
Amazing!
I have been looking into that for a posssible follow-up column following both mares. Can you you tell me where you saw that. If its been out there somewhere I wont bother.
Know I am jumping in, but I saw the article about their sale on the TDN Twitter page and read the article on TDN’s web page.
If their backstories written on either one or both, I have not seen them.
Regardless, Steve, I would enjoy reading about both mares and their pedigrees.
The colts seem to get all the glory and the mares are usually ignored.
I wont do it if it’s been done already
Sue Finley wrote the article on the two mares on Sunday. You can find it at TDN.
Great write-up on Mage’s connections, Steve. I can always count on you!
Thanks I’ll scrap that idea. Not a big deal, plenty of other things to write about.
I’m still attempting to come to terms with a 4-letter named horse winning the Kentucky Derby.
Orb won in 2013. But I know what you mean Roberta….
David
Four letters, not three.. or five… or any other number. LOL
Azra- 1892
Precisely! There hadn’t been a 4L horse win the Derby in 131 years. And that was when the Derby was 12 furlongs. Ha ha!
Azra 1892 won the Derby
Hi, Deacon. I was just having some fun. And I didn’t say or suggest that Mage was the first 4-letter Derby winner. So anyway, did you know that Azra won the Derby against the fewest rivals (two) in the history of the race? He won the Travers, too!
Wonderful story. I remember Canonero so well. 1971 was the year I graduated from high school. We delayed going to the senior prom until after the Derby. I watched the story done on Mage being just 15 hands tall and being in Barn 42 and thought I should make a bet on the little dude just because he might pick up some of the “magic” that barn once held. Silly me, I didn’t bet. I hope Mage continues on to bring joy to all the connections. Another good-feeling story for history.
Thanks Melissa. I hope the prom went well even if you were late.
Great Horse Story!!! Love Mage sooo much!! My son-in- law bet him in The Derby!!! I was in awe with the race!! Can’t wait for The Preakness!!!!
One heck of an article Steve ! Thank you so much I was 11 during Canonero amazing run and remember it well this ties so much together your articles are the best and you make the Kentucky derby so much more fun ! Can’t wait for the Preakness and will of course follow your amazing articles all best wishes !!and thanks so much for all you do to make the triple crown so much more fun ! Small side note mage mom and flightline mom both were in breeders cup juvenile fillies in 2014
Thank youi very much. Nick. I really appreciate the kind words. That is a great stat, I’ll have to remember that. Thanks
Thanks Steve
I look forward to reading your articles so much. I don’t read the ones I think are pointed to the bettors, as I don’t bet. Only you can give the backstories I love to read.
Off to share on Facebook!
Thank you very much, Stephanie. I appreciate it.
Steve, thank you for the ‘sliver lining’ story on the Kentucky Derby during a horrible week at Churchill Downs. After the earlier tragedies during the week, and day, my enthusiasm in watching the Kentucky Derby had dwindled away to almost numbness and expected the worse. With Tapit Trice floundering behind an ocean of kickback at the start, I thought, that’s the Derby for another year.
On to the Preakness but more so the Belmont Stakes at beautiful Belmont Park where every horse has a fair chance to win. All the best for Mage, with a nation behind him, in going on to win the Triple Crown that would be special.
Love all of Steve Haskins wonderfully researched “Stories”
Thank you Suzanne
En una palabra…Bravo!
Gracias
You are the best Steve with details of great thoroughbred racing history. Loved this to pieces.
Thank you very much Jackie
An interesting Derby with a lot of twists. Several late scratches to reduce the field to 18. Huge scratches of Forte and Practical Move. The Japanese horses disappointed. The Apollo curse is broken yet again. Congrats to Mage. Two Phil’s can run on dirt and survived a blistering pace. Nice run to come up just short for FAV Angel of Empire. I am most proud of Disarm. He finally got a hot pace to close into and was game being in between severe traffic at the top of the stretch to break clear to run strong to get 4th. Good ride by Joel Rosario. Kudos to Rosario and Disarm for finishing strong in the stretch and fighting hard to the wire. Disarm beating out Hit Show for the 4th spot was the reason why I cashed on my KDFW2 tickets Field/Disarm. Disarm was 45-1 in KDFW2 which was a steal and the bet gave me 14 field horses. The top 3 finishers were field horses in KDFW2. Steve Asmussen was confident going in and Disarm did not disappoint. I felt he has a good chance to Al least hit the board when he was training like a monster at CD. Terrible ride by Jose Ortiz on KingsBarns who was right on that suicidal pace.
Hi, Joe. Derma Sotogake finished 6th, ahead of 11 U.S.-based runners, including Tapit Trice, Kingsbarns, Reincarnate, and Verifying. That’s not bad, all things considered. I predicted he’d finish in the bottom 5. He nearly finished in the top 5. Congrats on your future wager!
Hi Roberta. I was very glad to hit the KDFW bet and am so proud of Disarm. Derma Sotagake ran solid but well below expectations. It’s a big ask to ship over from another country and run well in the KY Derby. I can still see using the Japanese horses because the top ones are very good and one of these days one will take the roses.
Joe, Disarm would be a major threat in the Travers. Hope he’s sent to the Spa. Derma Sotogake did run below expectations based on his post-time odds (finished 6th as the 3rd choice). But based on his fair odds, I’d say he did better than should have been expected.
I saw Canonero II up close, in 1973…..He winter’ed at Santa Anita, and he had a long work, I think a mile….he looked brilliant, and you could hear him “honking”, his breaths were quite noisy! Not long after, he went east, and beat Riva Ridge easily, if memory serves me correct, he had soundness issues, I can recall the Sports Illustrated cover that read “Canonero should not have run”, after his Triple Crown bid fell short..
The thing about rumor mills and social media buzz is, they don’t state HOW they know what they know. It was all hints and innuendo, which tells me, they’re not sure or they’re lying or exaggerating. I didn’t believe the news about Forte on Friday because they couldn’t give a source. I thought the source was themselves.
How did the gossips know Thursday or Friday, what Pletcher and Repole didn’t find out until Saturday morning? Do the state vets or other employees spread rumors about horses on the Vet’s list? Or else there’s some pretty clever gossips out there, possibly some National Enquirer hopefuls. Gossip can be funny, mean, both, it’s more easily spread by those who don’t particularly like the one it’s about.
Terrific read, Steve……when Dale Earnhardt Jr interviewed Delgado Jr, at barn 42. …it seemed quiet and peaceful there, before the walk over….then Mage propped, but when I saw him under Javier, in the post parade, as Javier waved to the camera–there really was a “stars alligned” sensation, and then came the break, where Mage walked out of there, and I said “NO!”…..but then his two rivals to each side sandwiched into one another—a sandwich with no meat, as the poor break became a blessing, for Mage because he was not positioned to receive the bumping, the poor break behind the torrid early pace became another blessing, stars alligned!
Thanks Mathew W–The stars really aligned this time. It’s no mistake that Mage was in Barn 42 where Secretariat ran from.
Steve, congratulations on a beautifully written story. You did it again… giving us the background of the Derby winner with details that we probably wouldn’t be able to find elsewhere. I had wondered what ever happened to Juan Arias and you filled in the blanks. It was emotional reading of the hard times that Arias went through after reaching the pinacle of racing with Canonero. As fate would have it, his legacy lives on through Gustavo Delgado who picked his brain to add to his own training skills. Yours was a very touching account of the Venezuelan connections of the Derby champ, Mage. Thank you!
Although, I passed on Mage in my wagers, I should have included him as he compared favorably to Kingsbarns (both 3 starts) who I did use. C’est la vie! I was very disappointed in Tapit Trice who, once again, got a slow start, basically ran the same race as Mage but was unlucky to encounter at least a couple of bumps in his rally. In midstretch, it was evident that Tapit Trice had nothing left in the tank while Castellano kept Mage out of trouble for smooth sailing to the wire. Viva Mage!
Looking forward to your thoughts on the Preakness.
Thank you Dewey. The big difference between Mage and Kingsbarns is that one got a great ride and great trip and other got a terrible ride, going head and head in that brutal pace. Also Venezuelan trainers are better than ours at getting a horse to win going 1 1/4 miles off only 3 starts. They are more stamina oriented. Kingsbarns hadnt run in 6 weeks and did not seem to have any stamina works. The old time stamina tainers like Jerkens and Stephens and Whittingham would have worked that horse a mile.
Steve, you’re right of course. Looking back, I saw that Delgado had Mage work 6f twice before the Derby. The fractions were 1:14+ and 1:16+. My knee jerk reaction was to assume that the times were pedestrian in nature and that Mage wasn’t quite sharp enough to put in a good performance. But, as you said, these 6f works were to build stamina and the times weren’t that important.
66 yrs in the game and I’m still learning. Here I am thinking the horse is slow, yet it’s me who’s slow…. a slow learner, ha, ha! Thanks for the handicapping lesson.
In the last Derby Rankings I ranked only 10 horses. See what I wrote about Mage’s workout. I moved him into the Top 10 off that work and it wasnt a fast one.
Dewey, c’est la vie were certainly my thoughts when Tapit Trice lost all chance in the Derby at the start. C’est la vie earlier that day had reared its unhappy head when Auguste Rodin flopped in the English 2,000 Guineas and any dreams of an English Triple Crown went with him. Nonetheless, those feelings were squashed immediately as Frankie Dettori was exalted on his return. Highly emotional.
C’est la vie was to return agin on Sunday when the super filly, Tahiyra, was defeated in the 1,000 Guineas – Dermot Weld had warned that Tahiyra was only 90% fit and the ferry trip on Friday was not ideal. Why run? Then again, watching the return of Oisin Murphy winning on Mawj was a fillip on losing Frankie at the end of the year. Not seeing Oisin’s skills on display recently has been a loss to racing. C’est la vie…
Davids, with a full plate this past weekend, you have certainly experienced the highs and lows of this wonderful sport. Horse racing gives us many life lessons to use in our daily lives. To build character, it gives us perserverance to overcome disappointment and the resilience to get up and forge ahead to meet new challenges. Because of the trials and tribulations that horsemen and fans alike go through, the joys of victory are that much sweeter and satisfying. Being a fan of this sport has helped me to keep hope alive for tomorrow and the days ahead. Finally, as disappointed as I was with Tapit Trice, I was able to feel the joy and jubilation that Javier, Gustavo, et al experienced with Mage. Ah, the highs and lows of horse racing… it sure beats living life in the safe lane. C’est la bon vie!
BTW, thank you, Davids, for being our unofficial correspondent on what’s happening in the world racing scene. You keep us up to date on the major races in Europe and down under. Very much appreciated.
Bon chance, mon ami!
Thanks Dewey, I try to keep things in perspective but sometimes your heart overrides the mind. Ha ha I wish the Kentucky Derby had a limit of 14 runners so, basically, every runner has a chance of winning. All the great horses of the 70s were not forced to face the problems of 19 other runners. I was happy for Mage winning as well, you can only imagine the lift he would have given the people of Venezuela. Sky high.
We’re so lucky with international racing these days you can see them live at the same time. Not so long ado you’d be lucky to see a flash on the news or a radio news flash then wait weeks for a racing magazine to imagine the race in your mind. Occasionally racing videos, 90s, were available that had footage of all the major races around the world. I have stacks of them packed away because DVDs have superseded them.
I was lucky as a kid having relatives that sent me racing/breeding magazines from Europe, Australia, and the US so I’ve been able to follow the twists and turns in bloodlines over the past 50 years. I find the breeding/ sales fascinating with racing the cherry on top. Bon chance, mon ami. The Belmont Stakes may be ours.
Davids, you are so right about a smaller Derby field giving every runner a better chance. I’m afraid that we’ll never see a field reduction, though.
Yes Roberta, just a pipe dream these days. Yet they can manage to restrict the numbers for the Kentucky Oaks. The Belmont Stakes has been my favorite US Triple Crown race from the early 80s onwards. The shine from the movie “Kentucky” had warn off by then and reality focused the mind. Race-day meditation acceptance seemed wrong for a Classic thoroughbred race etc.
Not in our lifetime but sometime in the future I believe turf racing will supplant dirt racing in North America. Societal change is not going to accept the carnage in dirt racing for too much longer when turf racing provides a safer, more aesthetically pleasing, universally engaging option. Works with the breeding side as well. Win/win.
Count me in on limiting the Derby field to 14 runners. Also, having an extra week between the Derby and Preakness and the Preakness and Belmont. I wonder if Steve would consider doing a poll on these two issues?
Perhaps Steve would consider writing a piece on his thoughts for improving, reforming, and saving thoroughbred horse racing.
Roberta, I think Steve has often expressed his thoughts on improving the breed but saving thoroughbred racing is another matter. That has been talked about before and no one seems to come up with an answer. Remember the advertising slogan “Go Baby Go”? That idea was a flop. Efforts to feature the stories of trainers and jockeys didn’t seem to have any effect. As for the horses themselves, they just don’t hang around long enough for the public to get to know them.
I’m not sure that there is a solution to the decline of horse racing. You have to understand the market if you’re going to be able to sell your product and right now the market is not there for our sport.
I gave a brief seminar at a Derby party held at the Assisted Living home where I now reside. I gave a brief synopsis of every horse that ran and touched on several handicapping factors which impacted my narrowing down the field to six horses that I would use in my wagers. I did my best to explain handicapping and betting terminology, but most of the questions that my audience had, involved the seven horses that died in the week leading up to the Derby. Needless to say, I was up against it with the bad timing of those catastrophic events.
In all likelihood, more lower echelon tracks will close down but the major tracks will continue to operate for the foreseeable future. That’s my take, but yes, I’d like to have Steve’s opinion on the future of racing.
You have my sympathy, Dewey. I once took a few lady friends to Saratoga to watch Rachel Alexandra run in the Woodward Stakes as a means of encouraging new racing fans. It totally backfired, the ladies wanted to now how I could attend such a cruel sport. They counted every 26 times Borel hit Rachel Alexandra with loud gasps with mutterings of “disgraceful.”
Helpless in trying to explain the whipping and that whip sounds worse than the force was against the horse’s flesh, I surrendered. The more the authorities reduce the strikes jockeys are allowed in a race the better it is for the sport. France only allows 4 strikes in a race now which seems right by me.
Dewey, I’d have moved the Preakness Stakes to Laurel Park as well. Bring all the known symbolic features of Pimlico and plant them at Laurel, the history lives on.
Steve,
I come to your column to get the “real” story. The back story, the story that no others will get anywhere else because you live and breathe this sport. Thank you for your in-depth reporting this year. Not only was it eye opening and informative, it hooked me and kept me coming back for more.
Curious to know what you think about the possibility of Forte being held out of the Preakness due to being on the vet’s list.
Thanks again for all your hard work.
I appreciate that Jo Anne. Thank you very much. I dont mind Forte getting some time off. You never know how quickly these bruises take to heal and racing is going thru some precarious times now after last week. It wasnt a good race for Todd’s horses. Might be time for him to regroup. I just wish that bruise would have been made known earlier.
Steve…I was at Los Al Friday morning, having breakfast in the track kitchen, an exercise rider told me Forte would come out on Saturday…..and that was Los Al….I posted “have you heard any rumors?”….and because I was not going to be able to get to the track on Sat I left Forte off of my trifecta box….
Good move Matthew, those rumors were all over the place especially on YouTube handicapping shows.
So, the fact that Todd admitted mid week that he three-quartered a front shoe didn’t set off enough of a warning to you?
I wouldn’t group Pletcher’s horses as if they run together or are the same horse. Forte was his star. I DO mind him being held out of the Preakness, he doesn’t need more time off than 12 more days. Pletcher said the bruise has healed as of today. Gallops and a work out would verify his condition. Dr. Bramlage said he was good to run in the Derby.
Steve, the gift you have for eloquence and telling the story is remarkable. Those of us who follow your love the game but when we finish reading your works We love the game even more. What a gift!. As for Mage and his connections Congratulations and well done. I thought Castellano’s ride was masterful. I didn’t have him but on Sunday morning a lot us just say “HIHO PIMLICO” Sinatra says it best.
That’s Life
That’s what people say
Riding high in April, shot down in May
But you know I’m gonna change that tune
When I’m back on top, Back on top in June
Thanks so much Derek. That’s very kind of you. I really appreciate it.
Oh yeah! That’s Life.
Hey buddy, can you spare a dime? lol
Thanks, Steve, this article is one for the books, but then they all are! Masterful writing and narrative. I was wondering before I read the article what the name ‘Mage’ might signify, and now we know. Thanks again for being our fearless leader in all things turf.
PS I was all in on Skinner, but the derby gods said no.
Thank you very much for the kind words. I was getting to like Skinner too
Hi Steve
Great article, when they scratched Forte it was an easy Derby bet for me on Mage. I just thought he ran an unbelievable race in the Florida Derby. He had a tough trip and still almost won in only his 3rd race. I thought he had the most upside of all the runners. Just wish I had paid more attention to Two Phils. But there is always next year, love your Derby coverage and
analysis, thanks Steve.
Thanks Bill. Glad you had the winner. I admit three starts bothered me but as I said we have no idea how good this horse really is.
In the picture of them breaking out of the gate, taken from behind…Mage was last out….circled wide on far turn then bye bye..
Ah, those quirky Derby gods! They do their best and give us these wonderful ‘little guy’ stories (and they give us you to tell the tales), right down to the exacta with Two Phil’s, a good story as well!
Thanks, Steve.
Thanks very much. Two Phil’s is a great story too and he ran a fantastic race. The only pace horse who wasnt up the track. He just kept going.
Thanks, Steve, for this beautiful chronicle. I love the emotional tone you infuse around this historic win for a proud Venezuelan connection.
You brought me close to tears by relating the spiritual presence of Canonero II and Juan Arias as the driving force inspiring Gustavo Delgado to follow his dreams. Those are memories we hold dear …
It is kind of reassuring to know that Mage’s not running last year was due to the trainer being patient enough to let the horse develop fully.
No one is talking about a Triple Crown champion this year just because Forte is still considered the best of the crop. However, Mage seems to be growing and getting stronger after each race… that is the reward of being a “rookie”… moreover, knowing how good is Gustavo Delgado training for classic distances I would dare to say that Forte will have hard time trying to defeat the Magician in their impending matches.
I hope the stars don’t stop to align for the beautiful Mage to achieve something magical.
Any Venezuelan and Latin American Fans reading this nice article will also say:
Viva Steve Haskin…!
Nelson, Mage still might have a shot at the TC.
Forte is on the 14 day Vets List for unsoundness and until he is observed in a workout, passes blood tests and checked out by State Vet, he will most likely be forced to bypass the Preakness.
Thanks Lynda…you are right about the strict regulations there…but from TP and MR comments clearance could come in one week or so..who knows…sometimes it is difficult to know the intimacies (real issues) around those type of problems
Nelson, the amount of time on the Vets List is not specified in the HISA regulations.
The KHRB is clearer, 14 days started on the 6th from what I read.
Pimlico adheres to HISA.
Forte has to work for the State Vet and pass a blood test.
It would seem that both Todd and Mr Repole were being optimistic that he would be cleared to run in the Preakness.
I am not optimistic that he will make the Preakness. Do not think the Belmont is in the cards, but that too could change I guess.
Think Mage has an excellent chance to win the Preakness.
Just my opinion that he (Mage) will face tougher competition in the Belmont from Angel of Empire and Triple Trice.
It’s a shame what has happened to the Preakness in recent years. It has become little more than a bridge to the Belmont for the derby winner. Some combination of diminishing soundness in the breed or owners protecting investments has made the Preakness an unnecessary burden for many trainers. Of course in the case of Forte the connections are not being given the chojce. The Black Eyed Susan has become little more than a glorified allowance race since Oaks fillies no longer compete. Hard to get excited about the day.
Todd, I dread bringing “politics” in any conversation because invariably it results in a firestorm of ugliness. But in the case of Pimilico amd Maryland horseracing it has certainly raised its ugly head.
The track is in dire need of extensive remodeling. Someone, and I cannot recall who, posted a video and some photos of the facility a few years ago. I dare say that few of the racetrack facilities in the United States are as beautifully designed and maintained as the ones in Japan and Dubai but Pimlico is one of the worst.
The track is located in a very bad section of Baltimore. I recall an incident at the Preakness in recent years when there was a shooting very close to the entrance.
The Atlanta Braves moved their ball park (Turner Field) from downtown Atlanta out to the suburbs mainly because of the crime.
Another factor is that the state of Maryland does not support rhe track or the sport (like Kentucky does and to an extent like New York does).
It is indeed a shame what has happened to the Preakness especially when you consider the very first Thoroughbreds were imported to the Maryland, Virginia and New York Colonies and were the sites of the very first racetracks.
So much history, so much tradition being lost. But then as a country, we seem to no longer care about such things.
May not happen in my lifetime but eventually there will only be a handful of racetracks in the United States.
Thank you Nelson. Mage has to be special to win like that with only 3 starts. He really could be any kind
Nelson, Mage has to be the favorite to win the Preakness Stakes. He should get a much better trip at Pimlico so then it’s on to the Belmont Stakes. Good luck, must be exhilarating for you and so proud as well.
A wonderful article with your customary insightful comments. Mage was my choice after the scratch of Forte, however, I’ll be back on Forte when they hopefully meet up again.
Thanks Robin. Well done.
Thank you, Steve, for giving us Mage’s marvelous backstory as only you can. I didn’t realize he was in Secretariat’s barn at Churchill!
Do you think Mage’s success will make it likelier that Salomon Gill finally gets to do a feature movie about Canonero?
Boy I sure hope so. Hes been close a couple of times. The screenplay has already been written.
Wonderful back story on Mage’s people, Steve. I’ve long been curious about Gustavo Delgado as his horses consistently pop up (and often over-perform expectations, like Caracaro) in major races throughout the U.S. This Derby win will finally bring him the attention he deserves, and let’s hope some of those high-priced horses that usually go to better-known trainers. It’s sad that Juan Arias only enjoyed his success for a brief time. Venezuelan horsemen (and women) are among the best in the world.
Thanks so much for your truly exceptional writing this long Derby season. This has been one of the best ever.
Thanks very much Ms. B
Thank you Steve Haskin, your write up of the Kentucky Derby goes beyond anyone’s expectation. The story of Venezuelan connections from 1972 Canonero II and Juan Aria to Mage in 2023 with Gustavo Delgado Sr. and Jr. and Xavier Castellano is something that must be written out of a book. And then for Mage to run from Secretariat’s barn #42 shows his win was in the stars. Interesting enough, also on Saturday Rick Dutrow, the trainer of Mage’s broodmare sire, Big Brown, won in New York in his first race back. I hope Big Brown’s reputation will improve and he get more dates as a New York stallion. What a story!
Incidentally, I think that Xavier Castellano brought up the subject of his being very ill with Covid which he brought up after the Derby. I believe he was more ill than was known in the public. Thank goodness he has fully recovered. And now Xavier will have a renewed career which he very much deserves.
Thanks again for a great story line.
Thank you Terri.