Mystik Dan slides up the rail for the Kentucky Derby victory. (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)
David Joseph/Maryland Jockey Club/Edited
BALTIMORE, Md. – Mystik Dan, who had another easy day walking around the shedrow Tuesday, is scheduled to resume training at Churchill Downs Wednesday morning four days after capturing Saturday’s Kentucky Derby (G1).
“That’s a typical routine for us,” trainer Kenny McPeek said. “We’ll walk them three days (after a race). He could have gone back to the track (Monday) if we’d wanted, but he didn’t need to.”
While no decision has been made on Mystik Dan’s status for the 149th Preakness Stakes (G1) at Baltimore’s historic Pimlico Race Course on May 18, the McPeek trainee so far has done nothing that would cause McPeek to rule out the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown.
“Not at all,” McPeek said. “Same thing. We’ve just got to get through the weekend and take it from there.”
Mystik Dan will go to the track about 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, the trainer said. Entries for the 1 3/16-mile Preakness will be taken Monday.
The barn’s visitors Tuesday included the management team at Spendthrift Farm, which stands both Mystik Dan’s sire, two-time Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Goldencents, and Goldencents’ sire, the sensational stallion Into Mischief.
Into Mischief, in turn, is by the late Harlan’s Holiday, whom McPeek trained as a 2- and 3-year-old. After winning the Florida Derby (G1) and Toyota Blue Grass (G1), Harlan’s Holiday finished seventh in the 2002 Kentucky Derby as the 6-1 favorite in a race won wire-to-wire by War Emblem. Harlan’s Holiday then finished fourth in the Preakness Stakes, also won by War Emblem.
Join the Coach at the Alibi Breakfast Thursday, May 16 to ‘Boast, Toast and Roast!’
The Alibi Breakfast features an annual gathering of horsemen and media to celebrate the Preakness and to solicit interesting race predications. It has also become an opportunity for the Maryland Jockey Club to recognize those who have made significant contributions to the racing industry. Click for tickets.
