Kentucky Derby Watch!  Margano who is a full brother to 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, drove to a 1¼-length victory in the seventh race earlier this month at Gulfstream Park.

Ridden by Javier Castellano, the two-year-old Dynaformer colt has shown steady improvement in his three starts for trainer Barclay Tagg and owner-breeder Lael Stables.  Margano finished seventh in his debut at Belmont Park where he was only 4½ lengths behind the winner. He followed with a second-place finish at Belmont, just 1¼ lengths away from the winner.

“He was big and heavy. It took a long time to get him fit. He never did anything wrong, but I can’t say he showed ability right off the bat, because he didn’t,” Tagg said. “But we had a lot of hope for him, and he came around nicely.”

“I did expect it,” Tagg said of the win at 4.90-to-1 odds. “He was nice and dominant, and I was pleased with that. He rated nicely and did everything nicely. He lost a little ground, which is okay.  I’d rather he stay out of trouble if he’s good enough, and he was good enough.”

Margano’s sire Dynaformer stands at Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Kentucky.  We have visited Three Chimney Farm many times on our tour.  Most recently we visited on the 2009 Kentucky Derby Tour – see our photo gallery for pictures at https://kentuckyderbytours.com/photo-gallery/tour09/