The solar was not but shining on the outdated Kentucky dwelling when Mystik Dan made his first look on the Churchill Downs principal monitor since etching his identify into racing historical past with a nostril victory within the Could 4 Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve.
The Derby winner emerged from coach Kenny McPeek’s barn at precisely 6 a.m. ET to start his stroll to the muddy monitor earlier than stopping in entrance of the hole to soak in his environment.
“Mystik Dan is admittedly calm, very clever,” McPeek mentioned. “Unphased by something.”
As soon as on the monitor, the Goldencents colt began on the five-eighth pole and accomplished a mile jog across the monitor. As soon as the colt had handed by the viewing stand the place McPeek may see him, he circled and put in a straightforward 1 1/8-mile gallop to stretch his legs.
“He was his outdated self. He simply goes on the market as Mr. Professional,” McPeek mentioned.
McPeek is rigorously monitoring each motion the colt makes as he weighs whether or not or not his Derby winner will pursue racing’s Triple Crown with a begin within the $2 million Preakness Stakes Could 18 at Pimlico Race Course.
The routine carried out by Mystik Dan Wednesday morning was particularly designed to verify McPeek may watch Mystik Dan jog away from him, jog previous him one time, and gallop previous McPeek twice whereas he watched within the viewing stand together with his canine, Sunny.
“Greater than something, I wish to make sure that he’s shifting good, consuming good, and completely satisfied,” McPeek mentioned. “At this stage, I like what I see.”
A choice on the Preakness in all probability won’t come till this weekend, and McPeek mentioned it may not come till Could 13, the day of entries.
“An outdated man instructed me a very long time in the past, by no means decide till you completely, positively need to,” McPeek mentioned.
Mystik Dan will stretch his gallop out to 1 3/8 miles starting Could 9 and should have a “swift gallop” Could 11 to offer McPeek an opportunity to scope the colt, ensuring there are not any points in his trachea or lungs.
Mystik Dan received a maiden race Nov. 12 at Churchill Downs by 7 3/4 lengths. Returning simply 13 days later as the favourite in an allowance-optional claiming race, Mystik Dan ran fifth whereas crushed by eight lengths. McPeek mentioned his runner got here out of the race with a lung an infection.
“I don’t need that to occur once more,” McPeek mentioned when requested in regards to the two weeks between the Derby and Preakness. “He had an actual official excuse. He coughed up an enormous chunk of mucus.”
Regardless of that regarding efficiency on brief relaxation final fall, McPeek is snug working Mystik Dan within the Preakness so long as he’s wholesome.
“It’s not that massive a deal,” McPeek mentioned. “So long as their immune methods are good and so they’re completely satisfied, no downside.”
THORPEDO ANNA RETURNS TO TRACK DESPITE RASH
Whereas all indicators are optimistic for Mystik Dan, McPeek has extra to fret about for the steady’s different star, Longines Kentucky Oaks winner Thorpedo Anna.
“She got here out of the race with a little bit little bit of a pores and skin rash on her girth that’s received me involved,” McPeek mentioned. “Horses get ringworm, it’s from the humidity, the climate, the rain, and stuff like that. Now and again you get a steady that has a little bit case of ringworm. She’s received some spots on her girth.”
Regardless of the rash, the daughter of Quick Anna additionally made her first journey again to the monitor Wednesday morning, performing the identical routine as her Derby-winning stablemate. McPeek mentioned she was nonetheless displaying the identical aggressiveness she at all times does throughout her coaching.
Not anticipating the rash to trigger any delays, McPeek appeared dedicated to the June 7 Acorn Stakes at Saratoga Race Course slightly than the next day’s Belmont Stakes Offered by NYRA Bets towards the boys.
“I need her to be champion 3-year-old filly,” McPeek mentioned.
PREAKNESS FIELD COMING INTO FOCUS
Ought to Mystik Dan resolve to run within the Preakness, he in all probability will solely see one acquainted Derby face within the gate, Simply Metal. Skilled by D. Wayne Lukas, the Justify colt additionally returned to the monitor Wednesday alongside Lukas’ Pat Day Mile Offered by SAP Stakes winner and Preakness hopeful Seize the Gray.
“They’d good power, felt good. In truth, surprisingly good,” Lukas mentioned. “I used to be more than happy with them. We handed that a part of the check fairly good.”
Sitting inside a half-length off Derby pacesetter Monitor Phantom, Simply Metal chased quarter-mile fractions of :22.97 and :46.63 earlier than fading to seventeenth. Based mostly on his power ranges after the Derby, Lukas believes the colt might be able to bounce again with a extra favorable journey.
“You possibly can’t [set those fractions] within the Derby and end,” Lukas mentioned. “We received roughed up a little bit leaving there. I don’t blame [jockey] Keith [Asmussen] as a result of he tried to get out of that bother. In doing so, he ended up sending him. We have been simply too sturdy early.”
Sitting on the also-eligible record previous to Derby entries being taken, Lukas determined to audible Seize the Gray to the Pat Day Mile. The transfer proved profitable because the Arrogate colt took dwelling the highest prize.
Seize the Gray appeared to relish the cut-back in distance to a one-turn mile, however Lukas just isn’t involved asking him to stretch again out to the 1 3/16-mile distance of the Preakness.
“He was simply getting his stride on the wire. He was working fairly sturdy,” Lukas mentioned. “I actually assume that he’ll adapt to the Preakness very effectively. He’s the kind of horse that might be very effectively tailored to it.”
Lukas has not decided but on who will trip Simply Metal within the Preakness, however confirmed Jaime Torres will retain the mount on Seize the Gray.
A horse that was on the Derby also-eligible record was Mugatu. After failing to get sufficient scratches to enter the Derby, coach Jeff Engler modified his back-up plan from working within the Could 11 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont on the Huge A to working within the Triple Crown’s center jewel.
“We have been a little bit annoyed we didn’t get into the Derby,” Engler mentioned. “We really feel the extra distance the higher for this horse. I do just like the mile and three-sixteenths, so we’re going to move up.”
Mugatu very probably would have been the Derby’s largest longshot had he drawn in, given he has received simply as soon as in 12 begins. Nonetheless, in a smaller subject within the Preakness, he may obtain extra consideration. On April 6, the son of Blofeld closed from final to complete fifth within the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes behind 4 Kentucky Derby contenders, and forward of Seize the Gray. The Blue Grass was his first begin on filth since Dec. 9 and solely his third begin on the floor in his profession.
“He’s getting higher. He actually moved up on the filth. His numbers proved it,” Engler mentioned. “We completed in entrance of [Seize the Grey] within the Blue Grass. I heard Seize the Gray goes within the Preakness, so it’s a logical spot.”
The principle intrigue within the Preakness subject is the Bob Baffert-trained duo of Arkansas Derby winner Muth and DK Horse San Felipe Stakes winner Creativeness. Each horses would have certified for the Derby, however have been ineligible to run on account of Baffert’s suspension from Churchill Downs following a medicine violation that led to the disqualification of Medina Spirit from a victory within the 2021 Kentucky Derby.
Muth will enter the Preakness off seven weeks relaxation whereas Creativeness has not raced in six weeks. Lukas believes the 2 colts ready recent within the wings has weighed on the Preakness choices for a lot of trainers. Nonetheless, neither he nor McPeek have been swayed by Baffert’s presence.
“I don’t worry any [fresh horses], even Muth,” McPeek mentioned. “We’re in fine condition. I don’t fear about different folks’s horses. It’s arduous to coach mine, a lot much less everybody else’s.”