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Belmont Stakes winner Arcangelo and jockey Javier Castellano are led to the winner’s circle
Jockey Javier Castellano is the regular rider of both Belmont Stakes winner Arcangelo and Kentucky Derby winner Mage, each of whom is expected to start in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 26.
According to the Daily Racing Form, Castellano was getting pressure from Mage’s owners and trainer Gustavo Delgado this week, asking him to make a decision between the two classic winners. Those connections wound up deciding to grant the mount to jockey Luis Saez rather than wait for Castellano to decide.
“We are under the understanding the Travers is going to be a pretty full field, most of the riders are starting to become committed to their mounts,” Mage co-owner Ramiro Restrepo told DRF. “Not wanting to be caught without a rider until the last minute, we decided to go with Luis who had ridden the horse before and who is a top-level rider in his own right.”
Thus, Castellano will be aboard Arcangelo in the Travers for trainer Jena Antonucci.
Read more at the Daily Racing Form.