It is another standard date on May 10 at Churchill Downs for the winner of the Kentucky Derby (G1) Mystik Dan as trainer Kenny McPeek continues to debate whether to enter the colt in the $2 million Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course May 18.
“We will discuss this in depth tomorrow,” McPeek said of the decision to run in the Preakness. Preakness entries will be taken on May 13. If McPeek decides to enter the son of gold money as the central jewel of the Triple Crown, he will likely leave Churchill Downs on May 12 or Monday.
Mystik Dan’s May 11 drill will be the deciding factor for McPeek.
“Just a little gallop, maybe along the road a little bit,” McPeek said of Saturday’s plans. “It’s nothing complicated, it’s just what he wants to do.”
On Friday, former jockey Robby Albarado was once again on board Mystik Dan and was pleased with the colt’s training. Jockey Brian Hernandez was also present but was attacking some of McPeek’s other horses. Despite reaching a career high just a week ago by winning both the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and the Derby, Hernandez is still working hard to find his next star.
Your daily dose #KentuckyDerby winner #MystikDan 8-day gallop from the Preakness. pic.twitter.com/q7RlBp67c2
— Sean Collins (@BH_SCollins) May 10, 2024
“We have to wake up and go back to work every morning,” Hernandez said. “It’s great to have a Derby winner. Now we just have to keep showing up every day, enjoying it and being here for the guys we’re with. Let’s work hard and try to find one others.”
Finding another horse like Mystik Dan will be a difficult task. Hernandez knew he was sitting on something special since the colt’s first win Nov. 12 at Churchill Downs.
“The cool thing about Mystik Dan is he’s one of the rare horses that has six or seven gears,” Hernandez said. “You can use him once, then he’ll come back to you and deal. Do it again, he’ll settle down. He’s a tough little horse. He just wants pleasing people and enjoying it. He takes pride in the work he does.”
Many Kentucky Derby watchers pointed out that Mystik Dan appeared to have a dream ride while saving ground on the rails throughout the quarter mile. However, Hernandez believes the colt’s natural ability is what helped him create such a perfect ride.
“No one talks about needing a really good horse and a really smart horse to get those trips,” Hernandez said. “It must be rare for a horse to sit in a pocket like that and turn away. We trust each other. He trusted that we would be able to give him that ride, and I trusted that when I needed it. he, he will be there for me. It takes a lot for horses to win races like he did. You just have to be proud of him.
One race where Mystik Dan did not have his dream trip was the March 30 Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park. The winner of that race is Muth who failed to qualify for the Kentucky Derby due to trainer Bob Baffert of Churchill Downs Inc. suspended.
Muth will likely be favored in the Preakness even if Mystik Dan is in because he beat the Derby winner by 6 1/4 lengths in Arkansas. However, Hernandez is confident they can turn the tables after his ride in the Arkansas Derby was damaged in the first turn when the Street Sense Stakes (G3) winner Liberal arts Carry him wide while lining up to enter the clubhouse.
Muth wins the 2024 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park with Mystik Dan (green hat) 6 1/4 lengths behind in third place
“(Liberal Arts) hit us really hard, he clipped my shoulders pretty hard and made us lean to the side,” Hernandez said. “After he did that, we went back. …That’s not (Mystik Dan’s) forte. He didn’t want to be that far back. He couldn’t run that long. He He has the ability to change direction quickly and he has the gears to him. It’s hard for a horse like him to run that long. We have to let him get his legs back I got up in the Arkansas rodeo and finished third.”
Hernandez credits Mystik Dan’s mentality for his ability to adjust to any situation that comes his way.
“That’s what it takes to be a really good horse,” Hernandez said. “Everyone wants to talk about their pace and everything else, but it’s also very mental. You have to have a horse with a really good mind that can understand all its lessons and understand you.” What do you want from it?”
COX VIEW Embrace freedom all weekend long
The Preakness field receives two more probable additions on May 9. Third-placed Louisiana Derby (G2) Tuscan Gold announced by trainer Chad Brown as scratched from the May 11 Peter Pan Stakes (G3) at Water racetrack support the Preakness. Louisiana Derby (G2) Winner Seize freedom His name was also thrown into the ring by his connections.
Catch up on Freedom’s training session before the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs
“We’ll be watching (Catching Freedom) all weekend,” coach Brad Cox said. “We’re happy with the way he came out of (Derby) from the right perspective.”
Although Cox is not typically one to train horses to return after two weeks of rest, he has seen enough from his colt training to consider the Preakness. He’s cautiously considering how his start at the middle gem could affect the rest of Catching Freedom’s season.
“It’s about doing what we feel is right for the horse,” Cox said. “My immediate thought after the Derby was not the Preakness. When we looked at the group of horses—it was a solid group—and first of all the way he was performing. We liked what we saw see from him.”
Should Catching Freedom skip the Preakness, Belmont Stakes (G1) June 8 at Saratoga Race Course will be “on the table,” but Cox will give more consideration to using the June 9 Matt Winn Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs in preparation for the July 20 Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park.
