Mage Favored at 8-5 in Morning Line for Preakness 148
At 0h09, on May 16, 2023 • By PIMLICO
Kentucky Derby (G1) hero Mage was installed as the 8-5 favorite on the morning line for Saturday’s $1.65 million Preakness Stakes (G1) after drawing Post 3 at Monday’s Post Position Draw for the 148th running of the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown at Guinness Open Gate Brewery.
Gustavo Delgado-trained Mage, who captured the May 6 Derby by a length following a thrilling rally from far back in the field, will face seven rivals in the 1 3/16-mile classic for 3-year-olds at historic Pimlico Race Course.
The Preakness Stakes headlines an exciting Preakness Weekend with a menu of 16 stakes worth $3.75 million in purses, including the $300,000 George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan (G3), a 1 1/8-mile stakes for 3-year-old fillies featuring undefeated Faiza.
Mage, owned by OGMA Investments LLC, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing LLC and CMNWLTH, will make only the fifth start of his career.
“It doesn’t make any difference. We can’t think too much about the things we can’t control,” assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr. said of Mage’s inside post position. “I think everybody has a fair amount of time to get their position. It’s an eight-horse field. All eight will have a shot to win the race, which is what you want.”
Mage has won two of his four races. The Kentucky-bred colt graduated by 3 ¾ lengths before finishing fourth in the Fountain of Youth (G2) and finishing second by a length behind Forte in the Curlin Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park and pulling off a 15-1 upset victory in the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano, who notched his first Kentucky Derby success after providing Mage with a masterful ride, has the return mount for the Preakness.
The son of Good Magic is the only horse in the Preakness field that competed in the Kentucky Derby.
