Ky. Derby 2023: How 18 finishers look + Preakness possibilities

It was a celebration long into the night for the connections of Kentucky Derby 2023 winner Mage, who had several fans and owners stop by Churchill Downs barn 42 Sunday morning to see the winner of Saturday’s run for the roses.

“For all of us, this was a lot of time dedication and sacrifice more than anything from these two boys,” co-owner Ramiro Restrepo said about trainer Gustavo Delgado and assistant trainer and co-owner Gustavo Delgado Jr. “This is a game that you lose way more than you win. It’s a labor of love. You’re just dream chasing. Today is very special for all of us.”

Click here for Churchill Downs entries and results.

The Delgados were said the Preakness Stakes remains in consideration.

“The horse is looking very good. I checked with the vet, and he’s fine,” the elder Delgado said.

“This is something we wanted. We worked for this,” Delgado Jr. said. “My dad had accomplished pretty much everything in Venezuela. For him at 60-years-old to start over again, pretty much at zero, ... and for me, it’s the best example. I’m very proud of him.”

Mage is likely to remain at Churchill Downs for several days and could return to the track as soon as Tuesday.

These were the morning-after reactions and plans for the other 17 horses in the Derby:

2nd Two Phil’s

Trainer Larry Rivelli told Horse Racing Nation in a text message that the Preakness was 

Two Phil’s, first in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) in late March, nearly became the second consecutive Derby winner out of the race following Rich Strike’s 80-1 victory last year.

“He proved his race at Turfway was no joke,” jockey Jareth Loveberry said. “It was tough to run second like that, but I know this horse gave me his all. He fought back when Mage came to him. I can’t say enough about everyone who’s been involved with this horse. It’s been such an emotional journey to get to this point in my career. I’ve had so many ups and downs throughout the years. The most amazing part about the Derby was being here with my family. They let me do what I love, and it means everything to me.”

3rd Angel of Empire

5th Hit Show

16th Verifying

17th Jace’s Road

Without having time to fully go over them, trainer Brad Cox said all four of his Kentucky Derby runners were doing well Sunday morning.

Angel of Empire, the 4-1 post time favorite, provided Cox with the best finish of the four by coming in third.

“We’re going to go over these horses this morning, and hopefully they come out of it in good shape,” Cox said. “Hit Show had a good trip. He had every opportunity, but was just fifth best. Manny (Franco) did a fantastic job on him. Angel of Empire was outrun early. He closed into a hot pace. He kind of tracked Mage from the half-mile pole on. Flavien (Prat) went when he went. If you watch the two of them together, you could say that Mage was traveling a little easier than Angel of Empire. Angel of Empire just kept coming and coming, so big effort on his part. It’s a hard race to get in and even harder to win.”

Cox said it was still too early to know if any of the four Derby horses would move on to the Preakness in two weeks, but he did plan to be represented in the race.

“Right now, First Mission is our Preakness horse,” Cox said. I don’t know if we’ll add any of these horses, but we’ll have to make a decision soon. First Mission had a fantastic work yesterday (five furlongs in 59.8 seconds). I’m very happy with what we’re seeing.”

First Mission, owned by Godolphin, won the Lexington Stakes (G3) on April 15 at Keeneland in just his third career start.

4th Disarm

Disarm was back in Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn 38 Sunday morning following his fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby. “He’s faced a lot of adversity this year,” Asmussen said. “We’re very proud of how he handled himself through it all.”

Asmussen said Disarm and stablemate Red Route One, who won the Bath House Row, would be considered for the Preakness.

6th Derma Sotogake

Derma Sotogake’s Derby dreams were dashed at the start when he brushed the gate leaving post 14.

“It was an important race, but the moment the gate opened was everything,” trainer Hidetaka Otonashi said. “My strategy was to race in front, but I got into a situation where I couldn’t do that at all and it was impossible to come back from that position.

“I wanted to make a good lead if possible. (Jockey Christophe) Lemaire said he felt good, but again, he was poorly positioned. I think it is all about the late start out of the gate.”

Derma Sotogake was scheduled to return to Japan on Monday with the Japan Dirt Derby on July 12 his next goal.

7th Tapit Trice

14th Kingsbarns

Trainer Todd Pletcher was back on the job at barn 39 early Sunday morning and said his two Derby finishers were doing fine.

“They both came out of it well,” he said, “and we’ll be vanning them up to New York at some point in the next while.

Pletcher also had planned to run likely Derby favorite Forte before he was deemed unfit by a Kentucky state racing veterinarian because of an issue with his right front hoof.

Pletcher also said he likely would be shipping his two of Kentucky Oaks (G1) entries, second-place Gambling Girl and also-eligible Julia Shining, to New York.

“There’s still a chance we might run Julia Shining in the Black-Eyed Susan (G2) at Pimlico during Preakness Week,” the conditioner noted. “I’ll have to huddle with the owners on that.”

8th Raise Cain

Raise Cain headed back to Keeneland on Sunday to trainer Ben Colebrook’s main base of operations. The next start is to be determined for the Gotham (G3) winner.

“We will see how he comes out of this race, but there are no definite plans for his next race,” Colebrook said. “He ran hard and had a tough trip late in the race.”

9th Rocket Can

Rocket Can was in good shape Sunday morning at barn 19, according to Kenny McCarthy, the chief assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

The Mott barn enjoyed success on the Derby undercard Saturday with Cody’s Wish returning to the winner’s circle in the Churchill Downs Stakes (GI).

Even though Rocket Can did not win the Derby, the Mott barn still played a part in the success of Mage’s victory. His dam Puca was trained by Mott and finished 12th in the 2015 Kentucky Oaks (G1).

10th Confidence Game

Confidence Game “seemed happy” Sunday morning following his 10th-place finish in the Derby and will be considered for the Preakness, according to trainer Keith Desormeaux.

“Yes, if he’s up to it. Absolutely,” Desormeaux said via text message.

11th Sun Thunder

All was well with the Kenny McPeek-trained Sun Thunder on Sunday morning.

McPeek reported Saturday that the Belmont Stakes could be in play for his next start.

12th Mandarin Hero

Mandarin Hero is scheduled to return to Japan on Monday with connections looking at the Japan Dirt Derby on July 12.

He had a wide trip and was bumped hard in the second turn under Kazushi Kimura in his second U.S. start following a runner-up finish in the Santa Anita Derby (G1).

“I was hoping to finish in the top five, but it turned out to be a disappointing result. But I am glad I took on the challenge,” trainer Terunobu Fujita said.

“The horse behaved well throughout the walkover, paddock and post parade, and he loaded into the gate well, so the atmosphere was no problem.

“The start was good, and I was in good position along the way, so I believed that he would use his good legs at the end. I can only give thanks to Mandarin Hero for running hard until the end even though his face was caked with mud. I am very proud of him, and I appreciate everyone who cheered us on.”

Also heading back to Japan on Monday is Continuar, who was withdrawn from the Kentucky Derby on Thursday night by trainer Yoshito Yahagi. Continuar also will target the Japan Dirt Derby.

13th Reincarnate

Trainer Tim Yakteen was closing up shop Sunday morning at barn 27 on the Churchill backside, getting things ship shape so he and his wife Millie Ball of XBTV could catch a plane back to Los Angeles.

He had made arrangements for another plane to take the six runners he had brought east to run on the Derby day card to return to their Santa Anita headquarters on Wednesday.

“Reincarnate came out of the Derby in good shape,” the conditioner said.

He also reported that Practical Move, the big colt who had spiked a fever during Derby week and never got a chance to race, was recovering nicely, and that he, too, would be aboard the Wednesday flight.

15th King Russell

Trainer Ron Moquett reported that King Russell exited the Derby in good order and that next race plans are pending.

18th Cyclone Mischief

Trainer Dale Romans’s chief assistant Baldemar Bahena said the barn team was disappointed in the outcome, but the horse was doing fine Sunday morning.