Mystik Dan to make turf debut in Arlington Million
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Mystik Dan, the 2024 Kentucky Derby winner, will make his first start on turf a little earlier than anticipated as he is entered to run in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Arlington Million at Colonial Downs.
Trainer Kenny McPeek said he was happy enough with Mystik Dan’s turf breeze at Saratoga on Aug. 1 to enter the race and, after looking at the entries, he said Monday he intends to run.
“I was really pleased with the way he went over it. The horse is doing really, really well. I don’t think that Arlington Million came up that tough,” McPeek said. “At this point, we’re going.”
Last week, following Mystik Dan’s turf breeze, McPeek had mentioned the Mint Millions at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 6 as a race he was looking at for Mystik Dan’s turf debut.
The Arlington Million drew a field of eight. It includes Integration, second in the race last year, and Cairo, a Group 1 stakes-placed European horse who is only 3 for 21 in his career. Grand Sonata, cross-entered in Saturday’s Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga, is expected to run at Colonial, trainer Todd Pletcher said Monday.
Mystik Dan is by two-time Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Goldencents out of the Colonel John mare Ma’am, who went 1 for 6 on turf.
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