When he entered the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (USA-G1), Mage was Grade 1-placed but had raced only three times and had a maiden victory to his name. A little over two minutes later, he had scored a surprise victory at 15-1 odds in America’s most coveted race. He never won again but placed in two more Grade 1 events before retiring to stud.
Race record
7 starts, 2 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, US$2,507,450
2023:
Honors
Eclipse Award finalist, American champion 3-year-old male (2023)
As an individual
A rather small and compact but muscular and well-balanced chestnut, Mage has a notable parrot mouth. He was game and determined in competition and is said to have “a good mind” by those who know him well; during his racing career, his disposition around the barn was calm and relaxed. He was originally slated to compete as a 4-year-old but was retired in November 2023 after a small lesion was discovered in a foreleg that would have required a significantly longer layoff than anticipated.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Mage was bred by Grandview Equine. A $290,000 purchase from the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Mid-Atlantic sale of 2-year-olds in training, he was owned by OGMA Investments, CMNWLTH, Sterling Racing, and Remiro Restrepo. Trained by the father-and-son team of Gustavo Delgado Sr. and Gustavo Delgado Jr., he was ridden to his Kentucky Derby win by Javier Castellano. Mage will stand his first season at stud at Airdrie Stud, KY, in 2024.
Pedigree notes
Mage is inbred 4x4 to two-time American champion sire Mr. Prospector, 4x4 to three-time American champion sire Danzig, and 5x5x5 to Danzig’s sire Northern Dancer, the 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and a breed-shaping sire. He is a full brother to 2024 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (USA-G1) winner Dornoch and is out of Grade 2-placed restricted stakes winner Puca, a half sister to 2015 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes (USA-G1) winner Finnegans Wake (by Powerscourt).
Puca is out of stakes-placed Boat’s Ghost (by the good Mr. Prospector horse Silver Ghost), a half sister to restricted stakes winner Ooey Gooey (by Political Force). The next dam in Mage’s tail-female line, the winner Rocktheboat, is by Summer Squall out of multiple stakes winner Native Boat (by 1971 Michigan Mile and One-Eighth Handicap winner Native Royalty, by Raise a Native), a half sister to stakes winner Double Devil’s Food (by Devil His Due). Native Boat, in turn, is out of unraced Boat in a Moat (by Sauce Boat), whose half sister Secretaridge (by Secretariat) was a restricted stakes winner and is the dam of Grade 3 winner Chicago Six (by Wild Again).
Books and media
NBC’s footage of Mage winning the Kentucky Derby can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUDgaN6iHFc.
Last updated: June 8, 2024
Race record
7 starts, 2 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, US$2,507,450
2023:
- Won Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa, (USA-G1, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd TVG.com Haskell Invitational Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Monmouth)
- 3rd Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
Honors
Eclipse Award finalist, American champion 3-year-old male (2023)
As an individual
A rather small and compact but muscular and well-balanced chestnut, Mage has a notable parrot mouth. He was game and determined in competition and is said to have “a good mind” by those who know him well; during his racing career, his disposition around the barn was calm and relaxed. He was originally slated to compete as a 4-year-old but was retired in November 2023 after a small lesion was discovered in a foreleg that would have required a significantly longer layoff than anticipated.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Mage was bred by Grandview Equine. A $290,000 purchase from the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Mid-Atlantic sale of 2-year-olds in training, he was owned by OGMA Investments, CMNWLTH, Sterling Racing, and Remiro Restrepo. Trained by the father-and-son team of Gustavo Delgado Sr. and Gustavo Delgado Jr., he was ridden to his Kentucky Derby win by Javier Castellano. Mage will stand his first season at stud at Airdrie Stud, KY, in 2024.
Pedigree notes
Mage is inbred 4x4 to two-time American champion sire Mr. Prospector, 4x4 to three-time American champion sire Danzig, and 5x5x5 to Danzig’s sire Northern Dancer, the 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and a breed-shaping sire. He is a full brother to 2024 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (USA-G1) winner Dornoch and is out of Grade 2-placed restricted stakes winner Puca, a half sister to 2015 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes (USA-G1) winner Finnegans Wake (by Powerscourt).
Puca is out of stakes-placed Boat’s Ghost (by the good Mr. Prospector horse Silver Ghost), a half sister to restricted stakes winner Ooey Gooey (by Political Force). The next dam in Mage’s tail-female line, the winner Rocktheboat, is by Summer Squall out of multiple stakes winner Native Boat (by 1971 Michigan Mile and One-Eighth Handicap winner Native Royalty, by Raise a Native), a half sister to stakes winner Double Devil’s Food (by Devil His Due). Native Boat, in turn, is out of unraced Boat in a Moat (by Sauce Boat), whose half sister Secretaridge (by Secretariat) was a restricted stakes winner and is the dam of Grade 3 winner Chicago Six (by Wild Again).
Books and media
NBC’s footage of Mage winning the Kentucky Derby can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUDgaN6iHFc.
Last updated: June 8, 2024