Kentucky-bred Mystik Dan held off late charges of fellow Kentucky-bred Sierra Leone and Forever Young (JPN) to win the 150th running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) on Saturday, May 4 at Churchill Downs.
Owned by 4G Racing, Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby III and Valley View Farm, Mystik Dan received a ground-saving trip, and it made all the difference in a tight finish. In a thrilling conclusion to the Derby, Mystik Dan maintained a straight course along the rail while Sierra Leone and Forever Young exchanged bumps in the middle of the track. Mystik Dan held his foes at bay to prevail in a dramatic three-horse photo finish. Mystic Dan covered the 1 ¼ miles in 2:03.34. The victory was worth $3.1 million, which raised Mystik Dan’s career earnings to $3,741,360. His record now stands at 7-3-1-1.
With the win, Ken McPeek became the first trainer since Ben Jones to sweep the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby in the same year. McPeek and jockey Brian Hernandez teamed up to win the Oaks on Saturday with Thorpedo Anna. It is also the first time since 2009 that a rider has won both races on the same weekend. The last time was Calvin Borel with Rachael Alexandra in the Oaks and Mine That Bird in the Derby.
“For three weeks, I’ve felt like we were going to win both races,” said McPeek. “I can’t tell you why both horses have been easy to deal with, the team has done such a great job every day. There’s been no drama. I just believe in mojo in positive energy, and we’ve had a lot of it.”
Brian Hernandez said of the weekend sweep, “It still hasn’t sunk in, it’s so unbelievable. We came into the weekend thinking we had a really good chance at winning both Friday and Saturday. For the horses to pull it off for us, we have to thank the guys back in the barn. It’s definitely a surreal moment”
Mystik Dan is a Kentucky-bred son of Goldencents out of the Colonel John mare Ma’am. He was bred in Kentucky by 4G Racing, Gasaway, and Hamby.