Mystik Dan, the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner, has been scratched from today $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) due to a potential flexing issue in the left ankle.
The news on Saturday morning comes as another blow to trainer Kenny McPeek. On Friday morning, his Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) contender Blackout Time was scratched by the regulatory veterinary team.
“Both my Breeders' Cup horses have been scratched by Regulatory Vets,’’ McPeek wrote on social media. “My team put both these horses on the plane without a single soundness concern. Neither horse has had any history of unsoundness.
“While obviously disappointed, we have been on an amazing journey the last two years and will continue to work hard for our clients and our horses.
Both my Breeder’s Cup horses have been scratched by Regulatory Vets. My team put both these horses on the plane without a single soundness concern. Neither horse has had any history of unsoundness. While obviously disappointed, We have been on an amazing journey the last two… pic.twitter.com/Hbjt44itzn
— Kenny McPeek (@KennyMcPeek) November 1, 2025
Mystik Dan was listed at 6-1 odds for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, which still stacks up as one of the most competitive races on the day, including the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
Nysos, a winner in 5-of-6 starts for trainer Bob Baffert, is the early 6-5 favorite, defending champ Full Serrano is 7-2, 2023 Classic winner White Abarrio is 8-1. Baffert has two other entries: 2024 BC Juvenile winner Citizen Bull at 10-1 and Goal Oriented at 6-1.
McPeek also trained 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna, who won the 2024 Kentucky Oaks (G1) a day before Mystik Dan won the Derby to give the trainer a rare Oaks-Derby double.
Also scratched on Saturday morning was Atsila, a 20-1 longshot in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) for trainer Donnacha O’Brien.
Entering the final day of the Breeders’ Cup, Aidan O’Brien has 21 Breeders’ Cup wins – the most of any trainer after Gstaad ($4.40) won the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) by three-quarters of a length on Friday night.
The win moved the Irish trainer one ahead of the late D. Wayne Lukas.
“A very good performance and Christophe (Soumillon) did a great job from the draw. Aidan is now the most winning Breeders’ Cup trainer,’’ winning co-owner Michael Tabor said. “He’s simply a superb trainer, his work ethic is incredible. You have to love what you do to be successful.”
Cy Fair ($12) outmuscled Schwarzenegger in the stretch and won the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1).
In the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, it was 8-1 Super Corredora ($19.40) going gate-to-wire in an upset over favorites Tommy Jo and Percy’s Bar.
Balantina ($43.20) came through on the rail and won the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) for Donnacha O’Brien, the son of trainer Aidan O’Brien. The filly won by 1 ¼ lengths over Pacific Mission.
Favorite Ted Noffey ($3.60) fought off Brant in the stretch and edged Mr. A.P. in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) to likely clinch an Eclipse Award as the 2-year-old male champion and stamp himself an early favorite for the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1). The unbeaten winner is trained by Todd Pletcher and was ridden by John Velazquez.
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