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SPORTS Friday 12 May 2023
Kentucky Derby winner Mage is on track to run in the Preakness,

pursue Triple Crown

By STEPHEN WHYNO Pimlico Racecourse in Bal-
AP Sports Writer timore.
Kentucky Derby winner Restrepo said he and the
Mage remains on track to other owners will make the
run in the Preakness Stakes best decision for the lightly
in Baltimore next week to raced colt who has so far
continue a pursuit of horse made only four career
racing’s first Triple Crown starts.
since Justify in 2018, with a “Every decision that is
final decision expected Fri- made on our end, Mage
day. makes that decision for us,”
Ramiro Restrepo, part of he said. “All indications are
the ownership group, said that Mage is feeling good,
Thursday those in charge doing well on the race-
of deciding Mage’s next track.”
race wanted to see one fi- Mage won the Derby at
nal workout before making odds of 15-1 after a tu-
that determination. multuous 10-day stretch
“Everything is just patience at Churchill Downs during
and temperance on our which seven horses died
end,” Restrepo said on a and five were scratched
conference call with re- from the $3 million race,
porters. “The plan is that if leaving a field of 18 to run
on Friday he trains satisfac- Javier Castellano celebrates after riding Mage to win the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby instead of the usual 20.
tory like he’s been training horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 6, 2023, in Louisville, Ky. Forte, the morning line fa-
all week, then we would Associated Press vorite, was scratched hours
make the announcement running in the Preakness; Preakness make for an un- able to know all the things before by Kentucky Horse
that we would go to the in 2020, the Belmont Stakes usually tight turnaround for that Mage needs to check Racing Commission veteri-
Preakness.” was run first because of the top thoroughbreds in North off the list to be able to narians who had concerns
Mage would be the first un- pandemic; in 2021, Medina America, participate his best for the about a bruised right front
questioned Derby winner Spirit failed a drug test after Restrepo downplayed Preakness, we have that in foot. Barring an unexpect-
to go to the Preakness with winning the Derby and was that concern, citing trainer play and we’re quite com- ed change by Maryland
a chance to win the Triple eventually DQed; and in Gustavo Delgado’s experi- fortable with it,” Restrepo officials, Forte won’t be
Crown since Justify five 2022, the owner and trainer ence. said. able to run in the Preak-
years ago. In 2019, Maxi- of long shot Rich Strike de- “He’s won two (Venezue- Logistical preparations are ness after Kentucky racing
mum Security was disquali- cided to skip the race. lan) Triple Crowns with simi- already underway to get officials put him on a man-
fied and Country House el- While the two weeks be- lar timeframes, so as far as Mage from Churchill Downs datory 14-day veterinary list
evated to first with neither tween the Derby and being prepared and being in Louisville, Kentucky, to earlier this week.q

Pedersen wins 6th stage of Giro, Leknessund stays in lead after

calmer day

NAPLES, Italy (AP) — Mads De Marchi shook his head pain after being involved The Giro hits the high moun- mile) route from Capua
Pedersen won the sixth and they embraced each in two of those incidents tains on Friday’s seventh ends in a daunting top-cat-
stage of the Giro d’Italia on other as they crossed the but he appeared not to be stage with the edition’s first egory climb on the Gran
Thursday after a two-man line. too affected by that as he finish above 2,000 meters. Sasso d’Italia to Campo
breakaway was caught “I’m very happy. That’s finished safely in the pelo- The 218-kilometer (135- Imperatore.q
with the line in sight. what we came here for,” ton on Thursday to remain
Andreas Leknessund kept Pedersen said. “It was dif- 28 seconds behind Leknes-
hold of the pink jersey. ficult to catch the break- sund.
Pedersen beat Jonathan away riders. We had to use Aurélien Paret-Peintre was
Milan and Pascal Acker- all our teammates early.” third overall, 30 seconds
mann in a bunch sprint at There were two catego- behind Leknessund.
the end of the picturesque rized climbs along the The color of the Giro is
162-kilometer (101-mile) stage that went around pink but the streets in and
route that started and fin- Mount Vesuvius before go- around Naples were fes-
ished in Naples. ing through Sorrento and tooned with blue in honor
It looked as though Ales- along the Amalfi coast on of the city’s soccer team
sandro De Marchi and Si- a relatively calm day. after Napoli ended its 33-
mon Clarke were going to That would have come as year wait for the Serie A title
contest the victory after a relief to the riders after last week.
they were in a breakaway miserable weather the pre- Despite the crashes the
that went early in the day, vious day caused several previous day, the only rider Norway’s Andreas Leknessund wears the pink jersey of the race
but they were swallowed crashes. not to start was Clément overall leader during the sixth stage of the Giro d’Italia, tour of
up less than 300 meters Pre-race favorite Remco Russo after testing positive Italy cycling race, from Naples to Naples, Italy, Thursday, May
from the end. Evenepoel was in a lot of for coronavirus. 11, 2023.
Associated Press