After he is done racing, Mage will stand at Airdrie Stud

Kentucky Derby winner Mage will begin his breeding career at Airdrie Stud in Midway, Ky., once his racing career is over, the farm announced Wednesday.

Bred in Kentucky by Grandview Equine, Mage will continue to race for the ownership team of OGMA Investments, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing and Commonwealth Thoroughbreds. Currently being pointed for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita, Mage has a record of 7: 2-2-1 and earnings of $2,507,450 in a career that began Jan. 28. His record includes runner-up efforts in the Haskell and Florida Derby, both Grade 1s, and a third in the Preakness.

A son of America’s leading second-crop sire Good Magic, Mage’s dam Puca has been represented by black-type runners with each of her first three foals and a recent $1.2 million McKinzie colt at the recently concluded Keeneland September yearling sale.

“This is a very special day for Airdrie Stud,” farm president Bret Jones said. “It gives us tremendous pride to be able to announce the addition of a Kentucky Derby winner to our stallion roster, especially one as uniquely qualified to be a leading sire as Mage. He is the first brilliant son of one of the most exciting young sires in recent memory, and his dam is giving every indication that she will be a truly important mare.

“The talent and toughness required by Mage to break his maiden going seven furlongs in late January, give a seasoned champion like Forte all he can handle in the Florida Derby and then win the Kentucky Derby in just his fourth career start is by anyone’s definition absolutely extraordinary. We will forever be grateful to his incredible ownership group for this opportunity, and the syndicate we will assemble to support him will be the strongest in Airdrie’s history. He deserves it.”

One of Mage’s owners also expressed excitement about the deal.

“I can’t tell you what Mage has meant to all of us that have been so incredibly blessed to be associated with him,” Restrepo said. “He’s the horse of a lifetime, an impossible talent. What he has done and will continue to do, for our team has been the dream of dreams.

“We have endless respect for the incredible team at Airdrie Stud and will be proud to entrust them with his stallion career at the conclusion of his racing days. He is going to be very, very special for their farm just as he has always been for us.”

Mage most recently finished seventh in the Aug. 26 running of the Travers (G1) at Saratoga.