Mystik Dan (Goldencents–Ma’am, by Colonel John), the winner of the GI Kentucky Derby in 2024, is set to stand stud at Airdrie Stud in Midway, Kentucky, upon the conclusion of his racing career, according to a press release from the farm Monday morning.
A three-time graded stakes winner with earnings to date of more than $4.4 million, Mystik Dan has been campaigned throughout his career by trainer Kenny McPeek for the ownership group of Lance Gasaway, 4G Racing LLC, Daniel Hamby III and Valley View Farm LLC.
Mystik Dan first gained attention with an emphatic 7 3/4-length maiden victory going 5 1/2 furlongs at Churchill Downs in November of his juvenile season. The performance was good for a 96 Beyer Speed Figure, one of the top numbers recorded by a juvenile that year. His Kentucky Derby victory came over a strong field which included Grade I winners Sierra Leone, Forever Young, Dornoch and Fierceness, among others, and highlighted a 3-year-old campaign that also included an eight-length win in Oaklawn’s GIII Southwest Stakes, as well as second- and third-place finishes in the GI Preakness Stakes and GII Arkansas Derby, respectively.
In his most recent start, the 4-year-old returned to the Churchill Downs winner’s circle with a victory in the GIII Blame on May 31, setting a new stakes record in the process. Mystik Dan is scheduled to make his next start in the GI Stephen Foster Stakes on June 28, with a season-ending goal of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in Del Mar.
The first foal out of his owner’s four-time winning Colonel John mare, Ma’am, Mystik Dan’s immediate female family includes Grade I winners Laragh and Siphonic as well as the multiple graded-stakes winning millionaire Summer Front.
“His historic win in the Kentucky Derby will ensure that name recognition will never be an issue for Mystik Dan,” said Airdrie’s Bret Jones, “but what we really want is for breeders to focus on some of the other performances that showcase how genuinely talented he has always been. His win at two, where he opens up seven lengths going 5 1/2 furlongs and runs a near-100 Beyer is as impressive as any juvenile race you’ll ever see. And it’s that same brilliant turn of foot that he showed when winning the Southwest by eight lengths that allowed him to open up a clear advantage in the Derby stretch despite being close to a pace that sent every other forwardly-placed horse to the back of the field.”
Mystik Dan earlier this year | Zoe Metz
He continued, “He’s shown that he can train on with a stakes-record performance in the Blame and I know Kenny really believes he’s poised to be one of the best older horses in the country this year. He’s an exceptional talent with that unmistakable Into Mischief look and we couldn’t be more grateful to his great ownership team for the opportunity to stand their Kentucky Derby winner.”
“I trained a great sire in Harlan’s Holiday,” affirmed trainer Kenny McPeek, “And I promise you Mystik Dan is every bit as good or better than Harlan’s Holiday ever was. Honestly, he reminds me of Northern Dancer in the way he’s made and the way he moves –he’s just exceptionally balanced and athletic. He’s got such great speed and he stays. Those are traits everyone wants in a racehorse. I think he’s got every chance to be a really top stallion and we’re going to be breeding and buying a lot of them!”
Co-owner Lance Gasaway added, “Mystik Dan has given us the ride of a lifetime and we sure think he’s going to give us some more great days before it’s all said and done. He’s such a calm and personable horse; always such a pleasure to be around. We are going to miss him when the time comes, but we are honored to partner with Airdrie Stud and very excited for what the future holds.”
