JOURNAL SPORTS
There’s no disgrace in finishing in the money in a thoroughbred race and certainly not in a Triple Crown race, but for Mage and his ownership group – including a handful of Shreveport-area shareholders – Saturday’s Preakness Stakes was a bit of a letdown.
After winning the Kentucky Derby in a big surprise two weeks ago, Mage went off as the 8-5 favorite Saturday in the second leg of the Triple Crown in Baltimore. But this time the horse’s finishing kick wasn’t enough to overcome the leaders, with National Treasure winning and Blazing Sevens second.
Mage’s third-place finish was his best position through the 1 3/16 miles over Pimlico Race Course.
Shreveporter Patrick Fertitta formed a partnership with family and a friend and bought a number of micro-shares ($50 each) in Mage last year, along with over 300 other investors in Commonwealth Thoroughbreds.
While Saturday’s return on investment wasn’t nearly what it was two weeks ago, the big payoff for Mage’s ownership will come later, when the horse enters the breeding process.
Going off at 15-1 in only his third start, Mage made a stretch run into the history books at Churchill Downs to capture the sport’s biggest race May 6.
