Mystik Dan, Churchill Downs Photo
Churchill Downs Press
Trainer Kenny McPeek announced Friday that Kentucky Derby 150 winner Mystik Dan has officially been retired but fans will have one final chance to see the colt beneath the Twin Spires on Saturday when he parades in the paddock for the fourth race from approximately 2:05–2:30 p.m. (all times Eastern).
Owned by Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing, Daniel Hamby III and Valley View Farm, Mystik Dan will retire to stud at Airdrie Stud in Midway, Ky. where he’s scheduled to stand for $15,000.
The 4-year-old son of Goldencents retires with a record of 16-5-3-1 and earnings of more than $4.8 million. Along with his victory in Kentucky Derby 150, Mystik Dan captured this year’s Lukas Classic (GII) and Blame Stakes (GIII) as well as last year’s Southwest Stakes (GIII) at Oaklawn Park.
CLASSY VETERAN WOLFIE’S DYNAGHOST TO MAKE FIRST START WITH LYNCH IN RIVER CITY
Woodslane Farm’s 12-time winner Wolfie’s Dynaghost is set to make his first start with trainer Brian Lynch on Saturday when he faces a solid field of classy turf specialists entered in the $300,000 River City (Grade III) at Churchill Downs.
Most recently in the care of Jonathan Thomas, Wolfie’s Dynaghost brings a versatile resumé to the River City, which includes victories in the 2023 Autumn Stakes (GII) at Woodbine along with the Kentucky Cup Classic (Listed) and Prairie Bayou at Turfway Park.
“He came over to us in great order,” Lynch said. “Jonathan’s obviously kept him in top form, so we’re excited to run him for the first time under our care. Hopefully we can do as good a job as Jonathan’s done with him. Since we both train for the same owners, they asked if I’d take him to go back south. This race came up here and he’s been training like he’s on top of his game. The water’s a little deeper than what he’s been running in but he’s a lovely, classy old horse and we’re looking forward to see what he can do.”
Wolfie’s Dynaghost drew post No. 5 in the 1 1/8-mile turf contest under jockey Luis Saez.
“Looking at the race, he’s definitely a speed horse and he’s shown he can win on the lead,” Lynch continued. “There’s a bit of speed in there but we won’t take his game away from him. If he breaks well, we’ll let Luis put him wherever he’s comfortable and see how it plays out.”
The field for the River City from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):
Mount Rundle (Alex Achard, Michelle Nihei, 30-1)
Epic Ride (Luan Machado, John Ennis, 8-1)
Quatrocento (Julien Leparoux, Fausto Gutierrez, 20-1)
Encino (Irad Ortiz Jr., Brad Cox, 5-1)
Wolfie’s Dynaghost (Saez, Lynch, 10-1)
Chasing the Crown (Tyler Gaffalione, Mike Maker, 7-2)
Mercante (Joe Ramos, Brian Knippenberg, 10-1)
Corruption (Jose Ortiz, Mark Casse, 5-1)
Lagynos (Frankie Dettori, Steve Asmussen, 9-2)
English Channel (Jareth Loveberry, Wayne Catalano, 30-1)
Tapit Shoes (Mario Gutierrez, Ed Moger Jr., 20-1)
Taking Candy (Axel Concepcion, Cherie DeVaux, 8-1)
Saturday’s River City will go as the finale with a post time of 5:55 p.m. (all times Eastern). One race earlier, fillies and mares will be featured in the $300,000 Dream Supreme (Listed).
Epic Ride was scheduled to run Friday at Churchill Downs in a turf allowance contest and will bypass Saturday’s River City. In that same allowance race, Quatrocento was scratched Friday in favor of the River City.
Jockey agent Ron Anderson reported to Thoroughbred Daily News’ Bill Finley that Frankie Dettori will not be aboard Lagynos in Saturday’s race. Dettori announced his retirement from North American riding following last week’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Dettori stated he’ll ride in South America in early 2026 then join AMO Racing as a global brand ambassador.
