Mystik Dan has sharp work; may make next start on turf
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Mystik Dan, the 2024 Kentucky Derby, had his first local workout since shipping up here on July 10, and though he worked a half-mile on the dirt Friday morning, it’s possible his future could be on the turf.
Trainer Kenny McPeek said he expects to work Mystik Dan on the turf next week to see how he handles it. If Mystik Dan likes it, a possible next race could be the Grade 3, $2.5 million Mint Millions Invitational going one mile at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 6.
“We’re contemplating letting him try the turf at some point,” McPeek said Friday. “There’s a big race at Kentucky Downs going a mile, there’s the Coolmore Turf Mile [at Keeneland]. We’re going to give him a little work over it and see how he handles it. I think he’ll handle it fine.”
Mystik Dan won the Blame Stakes on May 31 at Churchill Downs before finishing fourth to Mindframe in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster on June 28. McPeek noted that when Mystik Dan ran at Saratoga last year in the Belmont Stakes, jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. commented that he didn’t feel the horse cared for the track.
On Friday, over the Oklahoma training track, Mystik Dan went a half-mile in 48.27 seconds, according to Daily Racing Form, getting his final quarter in 22.85 seconds. Hernandez was up for the move.
“When he was getting around the turn he was with his ears up cruising, when I asked him to pick it up he shot off pretty good,” Hernandez said.
Also on Friday, Hernandez was aboard Thorpedo Anna, the 2024 Horse of the Year, for a gallop. She may work over the weekend.
McPeek said he got a little behind with Thorpedo Anna after she shipped here on July 10.
“Between the heat and the shipping it knocked her out of the feed tub a little bit, which is unusual for her,” McPeek said. “We took our time after that. It set us back a week.”
Asked if that could impact Thorpedo Anna making the Grade 1 Personal Ensign here on Aug. 23, McPeek said, “At this point I don’t think it does. It doesn’t help, but it wasn’t major.”
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