Mystik Dan captures Kentucky Derby 150 (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)
NYRA Press Office
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.— Following a strong workout today, Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing, Daniel Hamby, III and Valley View Farm’s Grade 1 Kentucky Derby-winner Mystik Dan is all but confirmed for next Saturday’s Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by Ken McPeek and piloted through the breeze by Danny Ramsey, Mystik Dan worked five-eighths over the Oklahoma dirt training track just after 5:30 a.m. in 1:01.59 in company to the outside of dual stakes-placed Gould’s Gold [1:01.79]. NYRA clockers caught Mystik Dan through splits of 12.74, 25.18, 36.39 and out in 1:16.22 and 1:30.65 with the Derby winner galloping out strongly through the turn in front of his workmate.
“I’m surprised Mystik Dan galloped out that far in front of the other horse – he’s a pretty nice horse. It was impressive. He’s doing great,” McPeek said. “He does things easy. The gallop out was pretty impressive.
“We’ll see how he eats tonight,” added McPeek. “He’s ate up several nights in a row now. I expect him to eat up tonight. If for some reason he didn’t, that would concern me, but I expect he will.”
The draw for the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes will be held on Monday.
Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks and Magdalena Racing’s Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks winner Thorpedo Anna, also with Ramsey up, breezed shortly before Mystik Dan, covering five-eighths over the Oklahoma training track in 1:02.09, while working to the outside of maiden winner Midnight Concerto [1:02.09]. NYRA clockers timed Thorpedo Anna through splits of 13.25 and 25.17 while galloping out in 1:15.74 and 1:29.19.
“It was good. She’s all that and doing great,” McPeek said. “The workmate – we didn’t want to destroy her confidence. We wanted them to stay together, but Danny could have left her at any moment, too. She just needed a nice stretch out. She keeps herself fit.”
Thorpedo Anna, who has been under consideration for the Belmont Stakes if Mystik Dan was to miss the race, is entered in Friday’s Grade 1, $500,000 DK Horse Acorn, a nine-furlong test for sophomore fillies on Friday here on Day Two of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.
