Mystik Dan. (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)
Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan returns to the winner’s circle with ‘Cut The Corner’ score in Grade III, $270,000 Blame
Darren Rogers/Churchill Downs
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan returned to the winner’s circle for the first time since capturing the historic 150th “Run for the Roses” one year ago with an impressive 1 ¼-length score over Antiquarian in Saturday’s sixth running of the $270,000 Blame (Grade III) at Churchill Downs – the highlight of six stakes races that comprised Stephen Foster Preview Day.
Reminiscent of his Kentucky Derby win in 2024, Mystik Dan, under Brian Hernandez Jr., relaxed off the pace along the inside rail, cut the corner at the top of the stretch and powered home to victory – his first in six races since the memorable Derby triumph in a three-horse photo finish with Sierra Leone and Forever Young.
“When Mystik Dan is right, he’s such a fun horse to ride because he makes my job so easy,” Hernandez Jr. said.
Mystik Dan, trained by Kenny McPeek and owned by Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing LLC, Daniel Hamby III and Valley View Farm LLC, ran 1 1/8 miles over a fast track in 1:48.45, which was a stakes record, narrowly besting Highland Falls’ time of 1:48.51 one year ago.
Mystik Dan banked $166,710 for the win and his record now stands at $4,417,570.
Alexander Helios led the field of seven older horses through early fractions of :22.93 and :46.82 as Antiquarian tracked just off his right hip with Hall of Fame behind in third on the outside and Mystik Dan relaxed in fourth along the rail. Antiquarian took over into the final turn after six furlongs in 1:11.14. Leaving the bend, Alexander Helios began to retreat and Mystik Dan circled that rival to find his best stride at the top of the lane. The Derby winner immediately hugged the rail – as he did in Derby 150 – and spurted 1 ½ lengths clear from Antiquarian and held him at bay down the lane.
“Just like in the Derby, today he sits in a nice pocket and lets you read the race,” Hernandez Jr. said. “When you call on him, you know he’s going to jump forward and that’s what he did today. We got that spot turning for home and he showed why he won the Kentucky Derby in the past. It’s a testament to the horse. He makes these kind of trips easy, I just have to point him in the right direction.”
Mystik Dan, the 3-1 third betting choice after a narrow loss to Saudi Crown in the $200,000 Lake Ouachita Stakes at Oaklawn Park on May 3 in his previous start, returned $8.12, $5.20 and $3.16.Antiquarian, ridden by John Velazuqez at odds of 9-1, paid $9.34 and $5.04. Post Time, the 2-1 favorite under Sheldon Russell, paid $2.94 to show.
Hall of Fame, Banishing, Tennessee Lamb and Alexander Helios completed the order of finish. Best Actor, Katonah and Most Wanted were scratched.
Mystik Dan is a Kentucky-bred son of Goldencents out of the Colonel John mare Ma’am.
“It’s continued to be a team effort,” McPeek said. “I have a great group of people who’s been around this horse. In hindsight, I wish I could take away a couple of those races after the Triple Crown. We got him back to his old self. I’m just so proud of him and the job Brian did with him.”
The race was the highlight of Stephen Foster Preview Day with six takes events as preps for other marquee races on Saturday, June 28, including the $1 million Stephen Foster, a coveted Grade I event over 1 1/8 miles for older horses.
“The Stephen Foster is right here in a month,” McPeek said. “We have another good horse in Gould’s Gold, who set a track record here. So, we have a little bit of a dilemma. Both horses will be nominated, and we’ll make a decision on whether we keep them together or separate them. I’m sure Brian will probably stay on ‘Dan’ but we’ll discuss those details as they come.”
The Blame is named after the 2010 Eclipse Award-winning older horse that handed Zenyatta her lone defeat in that year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) at Churchill Downs.
Blame Quotes
Brittany Russell (trainer, Post Time, third): “With his running style, sometimes he gets in trouble. He ran well but didn’t have the easiest of trips.”
