Mystik Dan skims rail, romps by eight lengths in Southwest

Feb 03, 2024 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

Mystik Dan reversed modest recent form in a big way on Saturday with a runaway victory in the $800,000 Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn Park.

Under a ground-saving ride by Brian Hernandez Jr., Mystik Dan rated in midpack down the backside, advanced to fourth on the far turn, and in the stretch exploded inside Just Steel before drawing off to win by eight lengths.

A homebred racing for Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby III, and 4 G Racing, Mystik Dan covered 1 1/16 miles over a muddy track in 1:43.67 and paid $24.80.

Just Steel held second by a neck over Liberal Arts, with a nine-length gap back to Awesome Road in fourth. Completing the order of finish were Common Defense, Otto the Conqueror, 9-5 favorite Carbone, Linebacker, Charleston, Magic Grant, and Wynstock.

Mystik Dan was the second significant winner for trainer Kenny McPeek and jockey Hernandez at Oaklawn on Saturday. They also teamed up to win the Martha Washington S., a Kentucky Oaks (G1) prep, with 24-1 longshot Band of Gold.

What a day for @b_hernandezjr and @kennymcpeek at Oaklawn Park! They sweep the prep races!

#10 Mystic Dan skims the rail and dominates in the Southwest S. at 10/1 to grab 20 points towards #KYDerby150! 🌹

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/nQD3HfkzDQ

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) February 3, 2024

The Southwest was the first stakes win, and second in five starts overall, for Mystik Dan. Second in his debut at Keeneland in October, Mystik Dan bolted up next out at Churchill Downs, winning a 5 1/2-furlong maiden by 7 3/4 lengths.

The colt's form was not as dazzling when stretching out in his next two starts. A fading fifth in a one-mile Churchill allowance two weeks after his maiden win, Mystik Dan was similarly fifth in the Jan 1. Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn after tracking in second much of the way.

'He needed to learn how to settle off horses and maintain that late punch, and we've been doing that in the morning every day,' McPeek said. 'I think we'll probably skip the Rebel (G2) and wait for the Arkansas Derby (G1).'

Mystik Dan earned 20 qualifying points toward Kentucky Derby eligibility, boosting his total to 21. Just Steel, the Smarty Jones runner-up increased his total from five points to 15, while Liberal Arts increased his total from 13 to 19. Awesome Road boosted his total from one to five, and the McPeek-trained Common Defense secured his first two points.

Bred in Kentucky, Mystik Dan is by Goldencents and out of Ma'am, a daughter of Colonel John. This female family has yielded Grade 1 winners Siphonic and Laragh.