Mage Takes Home 149th Kentucky Derby – A horse that had a 16-1 odds of winning took home the Kentucky Derby on Saturday that was overshadowed by injuries and horse deaths that affected proceedings at Churchill Downs. Mage emerged victorious in the 149th edition of the event. The Gustavo Delgado-trained horse surged around the final to outduel Two Phil’s down the stretch for the win. The victory gave Mage a chance to secure a Triple Crown as he won the first jewel. The win also surprised sports picks and parlays who stumbled big time due to the unfortunate events that took place before the race.
Benefited From Forte’s Last-Minute Pull-Out
Mage, who finished second in the Florida Derby, benefited from the scratches of various entries, including Forte, who was pulled out due to a bruised foot. The sensational run gave Venezuelan trainer Delgado and jockey Javier Castellano, who also hails from Venezuela, their first Kentucky Derby win. Mage will have a chance to complete the rare Triple Crown as he will attempt to conquer the Preakness Stakes on May 20 in Baltimore, Maryland. The victory also gave Castellano his first Derby win in 15 attempts. Angel of Empire, who is trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Flavien Prat, finished third.
Mage Takes Home 149th Kentucky Derby – Seven Deaths in One Week
Mage’s Churchill Downs conquest capped a sad week in horseracing in Louisville, Kentucky, where seven horses have died within 10 days. Horses Chloe’s Dream and Freezing Point were euthanized on Saturday after breaking down in races. Days ago, Wild on Ice, who was slated to compete in the Kentucky Derby, and Take Charge Briana suffered leg injuries and were killed as well. Saffie Joseph-trained horses Chasing Artie and Parents Pride collapsed and died under mysterious circumstances, forcing the Board of Stewards to take action by scratching all entries trained by Joseph until further notice. This included Lord Miles, who was supposed to take part in the Derby as well. Code of Kings broke his neck after being flipped over while being unsaddled in the paddock. Churchill Downs officials issued a statement, expressing concern over the recent casualties.
What Happened to Forte?
Forte, the horse who is expected by many to win the Kentucky after a string of impressive runs, including the Florida Derby, showed a slight wobble during Thursday’s training but trainer Todd Pletcher insisted that the horse can run. State veterinarians, who examined Forte on Saturday, had a different recommendation after examining the horse. He was forced to be scratched a day before the race. Owner Mike Repole expressed sadness after the development, saying that he feels bad for Forte. Despite the last-minute scratches though, animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said that the measures taken by Churchill Downs to ensure horse’s safety were not enough as the horses suffer injuries and were euthanized afterwards. The group even called for the closure of the track until stronger protocols are placed. Betting for horseracing was hurt by the last-minute scratches in the Kentucky Derby but nonetheless, ensuring the safety of racehorses is paramount than anything else.
