Winning the Kentucky Derby is one of those life changing events. Of course, the accolades are immense, but at times, so is the scrutiny. After parading in that blanket of roses, every longshot winner will always face the question. Are you MC Hammer, or Elvis?
Most should realize there are performers in between those one-hit wonders and the King, but often times people are quick to over judge. As has been long established, the winner of the world’s most famous race is about being the best on the first Saturday in May. To solidify quality, winning after that is important. The Derby is the ultimate prize, but the competitor in us all says we want to play “Can’t Touch This” more than once.
Mystik Dan ran a near perfect race under a perfect ride from Brian Hernandez Jr. in winning the 150thKentucky Derby by a nose. Brilliantly prepared by trainer Ken McPeek, this son of Goldencents put it all together at odds of 19-1 and shook up the world. But after a hard-trying second in the Preakness, he closed his three-year old season with lackluster off the board finishes in the Belmont Stakes (8th) and Malibu Stakes (6th). Naturally the comparisons came flying of other recent long shot winners of the Derby that never played a winning tune again.
Deciding to run again at four, Team Mystik Dan came into 2025 with eyes on bigger prizes. Jumping right into deep water, Dan sank to a ninth place finish in the grade 1 Pegasus World Cup on January 25. After a break, McPeek decided to run his Derby champ in the Lake Ouchita Stakes at Oaklawn on May 3 and saw him finish a fast-running second by a nose.
“I’m my own worst critic and the Malibu looked enticing, but was a disaster,” says McPeek. “Looking back at the Pegasus, there are obviously some things we would have done differently, but hindsight is always 20/20.”
Returning to the sight of his greatest triumph on May 31 in the grade 3 Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs, Mystik Dan faced a solid field of six others. The gates opened and solid early fractions saw another Mystik trip unfolding as his faithful rider guided him to the rail in a pocket behind the frontrunners. Biding his time and poised to pounce, the far turn saw the same move that has brought over $4.4 million to his team.
“He’s really a cool horse to ride because he’s comfortable sitting in that pocket along the rail and it gives you an opportunity to analyze the race,” says Brian Hernandez Jr. “When we turned for home, he switched leads and became his old self.”
Guiding his way through traffic, Mystik Dan used that same burst of speed that garnered glory in both the Southwest Stakes and Kentucky Derby. Using an explosive turn of foot, this grandson of Colonel John jetted ahead by open lengths. Looking like the horse that gave his conditioner one of his biggest thrills, Mystik Dan cruised home a length and a quarter to the good.
“I was high fiving people at the eighth pole”, smiles McPeek. “I knew he was gone. It’s great to see him get back to the winner’s circle because he deserves moments like this. I am very fortunate to have an ownership group that has patience and allows us to continue to campaign him.”
The Blame provided Mystik Dan with his fourth career win from thirteen starts with three seconds and a third. His next performance is to be determined, but for now we know he is still spinning hits.
