The 149th Preakness (G1) is this Saturday, May 18, at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. The 1 3/16-mile race is the second leg of the Triple Crown. usracing.com is publishing profiles of the contenders.
2024 Preakness Stakes Contender MYSTIK DAN
Mystik Dan galloping at Pimlico.
Almost as soon as the ink was dry in the Kentucky Derby record books, this colt’s connections had dismissed the idea of shipping him to Baltimore for the second jewel of the Triple Crown on two weeks rest. Mystik Dan had other ideas.
After a couple of days of walking the shedrow, Mystik Dan returned to the track last week and what trainer McPeek saw was enough to reconsider the Preakness. The son of Goldencents, who underwent an endoscopic exam and had bloodwork analyzed to ensure all was normal, was full of energy and giving his connections every reason to roll the Preakness dice.
He drew right in the middle of the nine-runner field, something his trainer isn’t terribly concerned about.
“Hopefully, we leave there clean and get a little better trip than we did last time,” McPeek said. “I think it’s a very level playing field. I think we could stalk right behind [favored Muth] or be off of him. We will leave that up to Brian. He knows the horse really well. We are excited to be part of another historic race.”
Betting advice: He’s shown he’s on the improve as evidenced by his Derby win, hopefully it wasn’t his peak performance this year. He’s also brave as evidenced by his rail-hugging trip last out and willingness to squeeze through narrow openings. As the Derby winner he won’t be anywhere near the 18-1 odds he was two weeks ago, but he may offer value as the probable second choice behind Muth, who soundly defeated him the last time they met in the Arkansas Derby. He is a solid selection for all tickets.
2024 Preakness Stakes Contenders, Odds, and Post Positions: Mystik Dan
Post Position: 5
Odds: 5/2
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Owners: Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing LLC, Daniel Hamby III and Valley View Farm LLC.
Career record: 7-3-1-0
Career earnings: $3,741,360
Most recent race: Kentucky Derby, May 4 (1st)
Top Equibase speed figure: 106
Pedigree: Goldencents—Ma’am, by Colonel John
Color: Bay
Running Style: mid-pack/closer
Notes: Kenny McPeek won the 2020 Preakness Stakes with the filly Swiss Skydiver… he has saddled five other Preakness Stakes starters. He is a homebred, his owners also raced his dam who was trained by Brad Cox, who saddles Catching Freedom here.