Mage, a 3-year-old colt, won the 149th Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 6th, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race is considered the most prestigious horse race in the United States and is the first leg of the Triple Crown. Mage had 15-1 odds going into the race, but he proved the bookmakers wrong with an impressive performance.
The Kentucky Derby is known as "The Run for the Roses" because of the garland of roses that is draped over the winner. In addition to the garland, Mage will also be awarded a $1.86 million dollar purse and a six-pound gold trophy.
Mage is trained by Gustavo Delgado, a Venezuelan-born trainer who is based in Florida. Delgado has been training horses for over 30 years and has won over 1,000 races. Mage was ridden by jockey Javier Castellano, who has won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey four times.
Mage is owned by a quartet of owners: Paul Braverman, Timothy Pinch, K-Mac Stables, and William Strauss. Each of the owners ended up investing in the champion of the 149th Run for the Roses in their own way. Braverman and Pinch had been longtime friends and decided to go in on a horse together. K-Mac Stables is owned by Kevin McKenna, who has been involved in horse racing for over 25 years. Strauss is the founder and CEO of PRA, a global events company.
The Kentucky Derby was held under unusual circumstances this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The race was postponed from its usual first Saturday in May to the first Saturday in September. In addition, the race was held without fans in attendance for the first time in its history.
Despite these changes, Mage's victory brought a sense of excitement and joy to the sport of horse racing. The colt's impressive performance was a bright spot in what had been a chaotic and disturbing week at Churchill Downs. The track had been the site of protests and controversy after the disqualification of a horse in the Kentucky Oaks, the race held the day before the Derby.
Mage's win at the Kentucky Derby was not a surprise to those who had been following his career. The colt had won his last two races, including the Grade 3 Hal's Hope Stakes at Gulfstream Park in February. Mage's pedigree is also impressive, as his sire, Into Mischief, had won multiple graded stakes races.
The 149th running of the Kentucky Derby featured an international field, with two Japanese-trained horses, Derma Sotogake and Mandarin, competing. However, it was Mage who came out on top, overtaking Two Last Words in the final stretch to win the race.
Mage's victory also had an impact on the betting world. The colt's win meant that those who had bet on him would receive a payout of $32.80 for every $2 bet. The trifecta and superfecta payouts were also impacted by Mage's win.
In conclusion, Mage's victory at the Kentucky Derby was a momentous occasion in the world of horse racing. The colt's impressive performance and underdog story captured the hearts of fans around the world. Despite the unusual circumstances of the race, Mage's win will go down in history as one of the great moments in the sport.
