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Mage Wins Kentucky Derby in Tight Race

He was a 15-1 shot on Derby Day, and wasn’t much talked about in the lead up to the race, but Mage found a way to win the Kentucky Derby…

Mage Kentucky Derby

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – MAY 06: Mage #8, ridden by jockey Javier Castellano comes out of the fourth turn the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 06, 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

He was a 15-1 shot on Derby Day, and wasn't much talked about in the lead up to the race, but Mage found a way to win the Kentucky Derby on Saturday night, beating Two Phil's and a late charging Angel of Empire.

The victory for Mage was a historic one, as it was the first career Kentucky Derby wins for Gustavo Delgado and jockey Javier Castellano. Both are from Venezuela. Castellano is a Hall of Fame jockey, but he never won the Derby, and was one of four jockey's to race 15 previous Kentucky Derby's without winning one.

That record was finally snapped.

Mage wasn't even on the radar until the top of the stretch when Castellano kicked his horse into another gear passing the group, passing KingsBarnes who was leading most of the race, and eventually passing Two Phil's down the stretch.

It was Mage and Two Phil's the rest of the way until Angel of Empire started to make his move at the last second, but couldn't catch-up to the other two. Empire was neck and neck with Two Phil's when the three horses crossed the finish line.

Patrick Mahomes kicked it off

When you win the Kentucky Derby

Everyone's excited

Jockey and Trainer embrace

Michael Cohen is the News and Sports Director at Fox Sports Radio New Jersey and Magic 98.3 FM, as well as a radio production assistant with Fox and Magic in New Jersey. He started his career in Somerset in 2018 initially as a news fill-in at WCTC 1450 AM, and soon moved up to higher responsibilities in the ensuing years, assuming News & Sports Director title in 2021Prior to his time with Fox Sports New Jersey, Michael was play-by-play voice for New Jersey Jackals baseball, and as well as play-by-play and color for the College of Staten Island basketball (men and women), softball and baseball. Michael began his career as a news and sportswriter with the Jersey Journal of Hudson County.