Trainer Kenny McPeek is considering running his Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan in the Preakness Stakes on May 18, the second leg of the Triple Crown. Although a final decision might not be made until Monday when entries are taken for the 149th running at Pimlico, McPeek sounded optimistic on Monday about the horse’s progress.
Mystik Dan’s health is a key concern for McPeek, and a positive sign came Sunday evening when the colt ate all his dinner. This happened about 24 hours after he won the Kentucky Derby by a nose, defeating Sierra Leone in a tight finish with Forever Young finishing third. “Ate up last night, which is a really good sign,” McPeek said. “I always believe the faster they eat, the faster they run. You’ve got to keep them in the feed tub. They need that energy.”
McPeek plans to give Mystik Dan a light workout later in the week, likely a mile-long jog or gallop. He said that while the horse seems bright and happy, he won’t make any fast decisions. “I’m encouraged,” he noted, adding that he’s still in discussions with the owners, Lance and Sharilyn Gasaway, about the final call on the Preakness. “We probably won’t decide until the morning of entries,” he said.
McPeek’s caution about running Mystik Dan in the Preakness comes from experience. In one of his early races, Mystik Dan ran just 13 days after a winning start and finished fifth by eight lengths. “If he’s not in the feed tub, he won’t run,” McPeek reiterated.
The trainer canceled plans to visit Saratoga with his wife, Sherri, to focus on Mystik Dan’s care at Churchill Downs and to check on his other young horses at Keeneland. McPeek acknowledged the pressure of deciding on the Preakness but expressed his pride in Mystik Dan’s Derby win. “He’s such a special little colt,” he said. “To think that he might be moving forward is even better. So we’ll see. We’ve got a few days to figure it out.”
McPeek also pointed out that his earlier decision to skip the Rebel Stakes could be beneficial if they run in the Preakness. This choice provided a seven-week gap between the Southwest and Arkansas Derby, allowing Mystik Dan time to rest and recover. “I told Lance before the Derby that skipping the Rebel would give us a little more confidence to come back in the Preakness,” McPeek said.
With a bit more time to assess Mystik Dan’s condition, McPeek will make the final call on whether the colt will compete in the Preakness, keeping in mind that the well-being of the horse is his top priority.
