McPeek: Rest of 2024 is question mark for Mystik Dan

Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Trainer Ken McPeek ruled out the Grade 1 Travers for Mystik Dan while raising doubt about whether the Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness runner-up will return at all this season.

“I don’t see a path to the Travers,” McPeek said. “It’s too short a ramp-up, a mile and a quarter off a layoff. This horse ran really hard in the fall, winter and spring. He’s deserving of plenty of rest to get him as good as he could ever be. We’ve asked a lot of him.”

The Goldencents colt debuted with a runner-up effort at Keeneland on Oct. 22 and made two more starts as a juvenile. He raced six times in the first six months this year. There were three Kentucky Derby preps at Oaklawn. He then contested all three legs of the Triple Crown, a grueling schedule of three races in five weeks that typically does not bode well for future success.

McPeek is focused on what Mystik Dan might accomplish as an older horse. He expects him to return to competition at some point. But it will be later rather than sooner.

“He could be back at the end of the year. It depends on timing,” he said. “We’ll let him tell us.”

When asked about the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Parx on Sept. 21, McPeek did not express any optimism. “Right now, I’m not going to set a schedule. I’m not going to have any preconceived notion of a race. We’ll take our time with him,” he said. “When he’s ready, he’s ready.”

Although Mystik Dan would appear to be the leader in the wide-open race for division honors, McPeek was quick to note that the second half of the season remains with major races Grade 1 races ahead. “Should a 3-year-old beat older horses in the fall, that’s what it’s going to take,” he said. “I think that dictates 3-year-old champion.”

With Mystik Dan still sidelined for an indefinite period, the door might be open for star filly Thorpedo Anna to take on the boys in the Aug. 24 Travers. Danny Ramsey, her exercise rider, is among those who hope it does.

“I think she can beat the boys, I really do,” he said.

Although McPeek is known for his willingness to take big shots – sensational filly Swiss Skydiver defeated males in the 2020 Preakness – it appears the decision will revolve around how the authoritative Oaks and Acorn winner performs in the July 20 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga.

“It would be an exciting option, but we’ll see,” the trainer said. “She needs to be very dominant against the fillies. If she is, great. If she isn’t, then we’ll go to the Alabama (G1).”

McPeek ranks Thorpedo Anna with Take Charge Lady and Swiss Skydiver among the best fillies he has trained, and he’s developed many good ones. He wants to be sure not to do anything that might set back the filly who joined Mystik Dan in giving him a historic Oaks-Derby sweep at Churchill
Downs.

“I don’t want to put her in deeper waters than she needs to be,” he said. “I might want to put them in deeper waters than they want to be.”