Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystic Dan is headed to the $2 million Preakness Stakes (G1) on May 18, after all.
Five days of carefully checking every move by his Derby winner, from eating up his feed, to body language, jogging, and galloping, led trainer Ken McPeek to this conclusion Thursday: “Everything is going well with him, so we’re headed in the right direction.”
Catching Freedom
Ridden by Flavien Prat, the Brad Cox-trainee finished two lengths behind the three-horse photo finish involving Mystik Dan, Sierra Leone, and Forever Young.
Loutsch said the horse will either run the Preakness or the Matt Winn Stakes (G3) on June 9, with the final decision to be made by Cox.
“We’ll make a decision by the weekend. He’s doing well now,’’ Loutsch said. “I’m not opposed to taking a shot in the Preakness, but I’ve got to listen to Brad and the horse and take my heart out of it.”
Lukas switches to Rosario to ride Just Steel
Newly elected to the Hall of Fame, jockey Joel Rosario will be aboard Just Steel in the Preakness, replacing Keith Asmussen, who finished 17th aboard the colt in the Derby.
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas announced the change on a national conference call Thursday, adding Jaime Torres will keep the mount aboard Seize the Grey after guiding him to victory in the Pat Day Mile (G2) on Kentucky Derby Day.