breednet.com.au

Mystik Dan Triumphs in Dramatic Kentucky Derby

Mark Smith - Sunday May 5

While the close relatives Sierra Leone and Forever Young (JPN) engaged in a not-so-friendly family spat down the straight, Mystik Dan enjoyed an unhindered rail run to capture the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Dowms, completing a memorable weekend for jockey Brian Hernandez Jr and trainer Ken McPeek.

Mystik Dan hugs the rails (image Kentucky Derby)

In a finish that had the crowd of over 156,000 on their feet, Mystik Dan nosed out Coolmore’s $2,300,000 Gun Runner yearling Sierra Leone with a nose back to Japan’s UAE Derby hero Forever Young, the first defeat for the son of former Arrowfield shuttler Real Steal (JPN).

Advertisement

An 8-length winner of the Gr.III Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park in February, Mystik Dan was coming off a well-beaten third in the Gr.1 Arkansas Derby.

It was the third win in seven starts for Mystik Dan who completed the Kentucky Oaks- Derby double for McPeek and Hernandez after Thorpedo Anna won the fillies classic on Friday.

A good deal of attention was focused on the battle between Tyler Gaffalione on Sierra Leone and Ryusei Sakai on Forever Young. It was more surprising that stewards did have a say.

Forever Young is out of the Gr.II winner Forever Darling (Congrats) a half-sister to the Gr.1 Alcibiades Stakes winner Heavenly Love (Malibu Moon) the dam of Sierra Leone.

It was the first win in the Kentucky Derby for Ken McPeek.

"It still hasn't sunk in. You know, it's unbelievable," McPeek said.

"We came into the weekend thinking we had good chances, really big chances, both Friday and Saturday and then to just have the horses pull it off for us."

There is little doubt the ground-saving ride by Brian Hernandez Jr proved decisive.  

"We might have taken out a little bit of the inside fence, but that's OK," Hernandez said. "Once he cut the corner, he got a little separation on closers that were forced to kind of go around horses and he was able to hold them off."

A homebred for Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby & 4G Racing, Mystik Dan is the only runner for Ma'am, a 4-time winner by the Tiznow stallion Colonel John who now stands in Korea.

Brian Hernandez enjoying the moment (image Kentucky Derby)

Ma'am was purchased privately after she was a $9,500 RNA at the 2014 Keeneland September sale.

Ma'am’s dam Lady Siphonica (Siphon) is a sister to Gr.1 Hollywood Futurity winner Siphonic and a half to Listed winner Mountain Girl (Mountain Cat).

Mystik Dan is the second elite level winner for Spendthrift Farm’s dual Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and Santa Anita Derby winner Goldencents.

The son of Into Mischief stands the 2004 season for $10,000. 

Advertisment
More Reading...
New Stakes-Winner for Star Aussie Mare Sea Siren
Aussie bred Fastnet Rock mare Sea Siren has certainly made her mark both on the racetrack where she was a triple Group I winner and at stud with her produce record is headed by triple Group I winner Warm Heart and over the weekend she produced another stakes-winner and he won the richest race in Poland.
Sires With Winners - Sunday September 28
Here is the full list of 73 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Pedigree Watch – G1 European 2YO
Juveniles took centre stage overnight in the UK and Ireland with a pair of Group I races decided at Newmarket in the Middle Park Stakes (6f) for the colts and Cheveley Park Stakes (6f) for the fillies, while at The Curragh a field of 30 lined up in the Goffs Million, the richest 2YO race in Europe.
Sires With Winners - Saturday September 27
Here is the full list of 106 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
My Wish on Track for G1 HK International Mile
The Mark Newnham trained Flying Artie gelding My Wish was crowned Most Improved Horse at the annual awards night in Hong Kong at the end of last season and has wasted no time confirming that potential with a dazzling first up win in the Group III Celebration Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Golden Rose Brings Second Season Shake Up
We are two months into a new racing season and the second season sires table was given a good shake up over the weekend with the $1million Group I Golden Rose and $300,000 Group II Stutt Stakes both producing a quinella for sires in this cohort.
Bred to Win a Caulfield Guineas?
It’s been a good weekend for Yarraman Park's champion sire I Am Invincible with a G1 winner and a colt soon to roll the dice in a G1 of his own.
Record-Breaking Weetwood Win To Dundeel’s Tavs
Having not raced since fourth in the Listed BRC Spear Chief Handicap (1500m) during the Brisbane Winter Carnival, the Mark Currie trained Tavs (Dundeel) resumed from a spell to record his first black type victory, winning the Listed Weetwood (1200m) at Toowoomba on Saturday in track record time.
Inglis Ready2Race Purchase Headed to $3million Big Dance
Sales for two year-olds in training are looming on the horizon for all three auction houses and the $150,000 Dubbo Gold Cup (1600m) on Sunday has eligibility for the $3million Big Dance for the winner and it was progressive Exceedance 4YO Cristal Clear, who claimed the prize.
Favourite Whisky On The Hill (GB) Wins Listed R.M. Ansett Classic
With just a small field of seven runners jumping away in the Listed MRC R.M. Ansett Classic (2415m) at Mornington on Sunday, it was the Glen Thompson trained Whiskey On The Hill (GB) (Ribchester) who took the prize, securing his first black type victory.