McPeek: Rest of 2024 is question mark for Mystik Dan
Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Trainer Ken McPeek ruled out the Grade 1 Travers for Mystik Dan while raising doubt about whether the Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness runner-up will return at all this season.
“I don’t see a path to the Travers,” McPeek said. “It’s too short a ramp-up, a mile-and-a-quarter off a layoff. This horse ran really hard in the fall, winter and spring. He’s deserving of plenty of rest to get him as good as he could ever be. We’ve asked a lot of him.”
The Goldencents colt debuted with a runner-up effort at Keeneland on Oct. 22 and made two more starts as a juvenile. He raced six times in the first six months this year. There were three Kentucky Derby preps at Oaklawn. He then contested all three legs of the Triple Crown, a grueling schedule of three races in five weeks that typically does not bode well for future success.
McPeek is focused on what Mystik Dan might accomplish as an older horse. He expects him to return to competition at some point. But it will be later rather than sooner.
“He could be back at the end of the year. It depends on timing,” he said. “We’ll let him tell us.”
| Ky. Derby winners | Subsequent races | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Mystik Dan | 2nd 2024 Preakness | Taking summer break |
| 8th 2024 Belmont | ||
| 2023 Mage | 3rd 2023 Preakness | Retired to stud Nov. 2023 |
| 2nd 2023 Haskell (G1) | ||
| 7th 2023 Travers (G1) | ||
| 2022 Rich Strike | 6th 2022 Belmont | Resumed training in June |
| 4th 2022 Travers (G1) | ||
| 2nd 2022 Lukas Cl. (G2) | ||
| 4th 2022 BC Classic | ||
| 6th 2022 Clark (G1) | ||
| 5th 2023 Alysheba (G2) | ||
| 2021 Mandaloun | 1st 2021 Pegasus | Retired to stud Sept. 2022 |
| 1st 2021 Haskell (G1) | ||
| 1st 2022 Louisiana (G3) | ||
| 9th 2022 Saudi Cup (G1) | ||
| 4th 2022 S. Foster (G2) | ||
| 4th 2022 S.D. Hcp. (G2) | ||
| 2020 Authentic | 2nd 2020 Preakness | Retired to stud Nov. 2020 |
| 1st 2020 BC Classic | ||
| 2019 Country House | Laminitis, retired Feb. 2020 | |
| 2018 Justify | 1st 2018 Preakness | Inj. ankle, retired July 2018 |
| 1st 2018 Belmont | ||
| 2017 Always Dreaming | 8th 2017 Preakness | Retired to stud Sept. 2018 |
| 3rd 2017 Jim Dandy (G2) | ||
| 9th 2017 Travers (G1) | ||
| 2nd 2018 GP Mile (G2) | ||
| 5th 2018 Alysheba (G2) | ||
| 2016 Nyquist | 3rd 2016 Preakness | Retired to stud Oct. 2016 |
| 4th 2016 Haskell (G1) | ||
| 6th 2016 Penn Derby (G2) | ||
| 2015 American Pharoah | 1st 2015 Preakness | Retired to stud Nov. 2015 |
| 1st 2015 Belmont | ||
| 1st 2015 Haskell (G1) | ||
| 2nd 2015 Travers (G1) | ||
| 1st 2015 BC Classic | ||
| 2014 California Chrome | 1st 2014 Preakness | Retired to stud Jan. 2017 |
| 4th 2014 Belmont | ||
| 6th 2014 Penn Derby (G2) | ||
| 3rd 2014 BC Classic | ||
| 1st 2014 Hwd. Derby (G1) | ||
| 2nd 2015 San Antonio (G2) | ||
| 2nd 2015 Dubai WC (G1) | ||
| 1st 2016 San Pasqual (G2) | ||
| 1st 2016 Hcp. at Meydan | ||
| 1st 2016 Dubai WC (G1) | ||
| 1st 2016 S.D. Hcp. (G2) | ||
| 1st 2016 Pacific Cl. (G1) | ||
| 1st 2016 Awe. Again (G1) | ||
| 2nd 2016 BC Classic | ||
| 1st 2016 Winter Challenge | ||
| 9th 2017 Pegasus WC (G1) |
When asked about the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Parx Racing on Sept. 21, McPeek did not express any optimism.
“Right now I’m not going to set a schedule. I’m not going to have any preconceived notion of a race. We’ll take our time with him,” he said. “When he’s ready, he’s ready.”
Although Mystik Dan would appear to be the leader in the wide-open race for division honors, McPeek was quick to note that the second half of the season remains with major races Grade 1 races ahead.
“Should a 3-year-old beat older horses in the fall, that’s what it’s going to take,” he said. “I think that dictates 3-year-old champion.”
With Mystik Dan still sidelined for an indefinite period, the door might be open for star filly Thorpedo Anna to take on the boys in the Aug. 24 Travers. Danny Ramsey, her exercise rider, is among those who hope she does.
“I think she can beat the boys, I really do,” he said.
Although McPeek is known for his willingness to take big shots – sensational filly Swiss Skydiver defeated males in the 2020 Preakness – it appears the decision will revolve around how the authoritative Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Acorn (G1) winner performs in Saturday’s Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga.
“It would be an exciting option, but we’ll see,” the trainer said. “She needs to be very dominant against the fillies. If she is, great. If she isn’t, then we’ll go to the Alabama (G1).”
McPeek ranks Thorpedo Anna with Take Charge Lady and Swiss Skydiver among the best fillies he has trained, and he’s developed many good ones. He wants to be sure not to do anything that might set back the filly who joined Mystik Dan in giving him a historic Oaks-Derby sweep at Churchill Downs.
“I don’t want to put her in deeper waters than she needs to be,” he said. “I might want to put them in deeper waters than they want to be.”