Churchill Downs hosted another outstanding Kentucky Derby this year, which has once again made the opening race of the Triple Crown one of the most compelling in recent years.
Early in the day, there was drama associated with the scratching of pre-race favorite Forte, which left bettors with a seismic hole when it came to their selection for the race.
As for trainer Gustavo Delgado, this was not only going to be a historic day for him, as he was going to be the first trainer ever to win the Kentucky Derby with Mage.
Mage The One To Beat
In the eyes of many people, Mage was an outsider when it came to the Kentucky Derby and set out with the intention to change historical trends for the first time ever in the race’s long history by overturning them.
There was previously only one horse that had won the opening Triple Crown race, justify, who failed to line up as a two-year-old, highlighting the fact that there was a step up in class that needed to be made.
Mage at least showed flashes of form in preps, finishing second on two occasions to Forte, with the latest of those coming in the G1 Florida Derby.
Even so, it would be difficult to argue that the three-year-old would have been able to reverse that form if they had both run at Churchill Downs at the same time. Despite this, Mage had a strong showing in the Kentucky Derby, as he overtook the leader with just over a furlong to go in the race.
Interestingly enough, he may have an even better chance of winning the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico due to the reduced distance of the race, which may also better suit his style than many of the returning Derby horses in this event. Mage is among the favorites currently at the 2023 Preakness Stakes Odds by TwinSpires.com, and rightly so.
Other Likely Derby Runners At Pimlico
There hasn’t been official clarification just yet surrounding the runners that will head to Pimlico after the Derby. Still, Two Phil’s, who finished second in the Derby, looks set to bypass the Preakness in favor of a run in the Belmont Stakes. Forte also won’t be eligible after being placed on a vet list for 14 days.
Disarm is among the highest-placed finishers in the Derby that look set to head to Pimlico, and the Steven Asmussen runner will go to the second Triple Crown race with at least a chance.
It was a great occasion for him as he won fourth at Churchill Downs despite his odds of 27/1 going off. In spite of the lack of speed, he appeared to have, he might still be able to give himself a chance if he used a different tactic than the other three finishers.
The Confidence Game is the only other probable at this early stage for the Preakness. Connections were slightly disappointed with his effort at Churchill Downs, as he looked to have gained a prominent position after breaking well from the gate.
As a result, he has been positioned fifth in the Derby for quite some time before being weakened over the final two furlongs. However, with the Preakness Stakes distance, he could be firmly placed in consideration as a potential winner.
Triple Crown Newcomers
Considering the fact that Early Voting won the Preakness last year, it’s evident that you’ll have an edge when analyzing the contenders when you enter the race fresh, especially since you’ve seen what happened last year with Early Voting.
Several runners who did not compete in the Kentucky Derby this year will be running at Pimlico, and Blazing Sevens, the horse owned by Chad Brown, may be one of the strongest contenders for the race. After finishing third in the G1 Blue Grass, it appears this race has been the target for the horse for quite some time now.
National Treasure is a potential runner that could be handed a spot, despite being under the care of Bob Baffert. The three-year-old was last seen finishing fourth in the G1 Santa Anita Derby.
In the meantime, Chase the Chaos could create an excellent story for Ed Moger Jr. Still. To take advantage of the opportunity, he will have to show a great deal of improvement after finishing just eighth in the California Derby.
It is also expected that Brad Cox will have a strong hand once again, and one of those might be First Mission. First Mission was last seen capturing the G3 Lexington stakes, which was held on October 26.
Providing Tips and Advice
Kentucky Derby winner Mage is one of the favorites because of his performance in the Derby and the smaller distance of the Preakness Stakes, which may suit his style better.
Disarm, The Confidence Game, and Triple Crown newcomers such as Blazing Sevens, National Treasure, and Chase the Chaos are also potential contenders to watch out for. In addition, as a new horse enters the race, it can gain an advantage, as shown by last year’s Early Voting victory.
