(Reuters) – Kentucky Derby winner Mage will run in the May 20 Preakness Stakes, the second leg of U.S. thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown, the chestnut colt’s ownership group confirmed on Friday.
Mage, a 15-1 shot at the Kentucky Derby, overtook Two Phil’s down the stretch at Churchill Downs last week with jockey Javier Castellano aboard, to win the 1-1/4 mile race by one length.
The decision by Mage’s ownership group was made after the horse’s training session on Friday at Churchill Downs where the colt warmed up in the mile chute prior to galloping about 1-5/8 miles under regular exercise rider J.J. Delgado.
“It still really hasn’t sunk in that we won the Kentucky Derby,” co-owner/assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr. said.
“It’s been a surreal last few days. The most important thing is the horse looks great. He’s kept his weight and (is) relaxed when training.”
Mage will train again on Saturday around 7:45 a.m. (1145 GMT) before being transported to Baltimore later that day ahead of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course.
A victory for Mage in the Preakness and June 10 Belmont Stakes would produce thoroughbred racing’s 13th Triple Crown winner and the first since Justify in 2018.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; editing by Clare Fallon)
