Mystik Dan gave state something to cheer | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Maybe it should have been an upset.

The 155th running of the Belmont Stakes was run away from home at Saratoga and at 1 1/4 miles instead of the grueling 1 1/2 miles.

It started as expected with Preakness winner Seize the Grey trying to go wire-to-wire, but the fast pace was challenged by Dornoch who had a crowded trip in the Kentucky Derby. He held off Mindset and Sierra Leone for the win Saturday at 17-1 odds.

Sierra Leone might have won if the race had been a quarter of a mile longer, but the most expensive horse in the field — a $2.3 million purchase — again didn’t have a clean race.

All day speed had been favored at Saratoga and Dornoch, who has demonstrated a desire to be on the lead in most of his races, was kept patient by Luis Saez until the head of the stretch and then he hit another gear.

Mindframe was second in just his third race after winning his first two outings by more than a combined 20 length.

Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan didn’t fire.

It was just one of those days that happens to most horses.

Last week during the regular lunch at Corky’s, the question was asked what Oaklawn horse is the all-time favorite.

There have been many great horses who have come through Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort. Champions like Zenyatta, Rachel Alexander and American Pharoah are among legions of others, but one stands out personally.

It was 2004 and Smarty Jones arrived at Oaklawn with trainer John Servis basically an unknown.

Part of the lure that brought Servis to Hot Springs was the late great Oaklawn owner Charles Cella offered a $5 million bonus for any horse that could win the Rebel Stakes, the Arkansas Derby and the Kentucky Derby.

Servis charted what he thought would be best course for a horse he realized was the most talented horse he had trained.

They came to the Spa City and stayed. No shipping in and out. Smarty became Arkansas’ horse. His first four races as a 3-year-old were wins in the Count Fleet, the Southwest Stakes, Rebel Stakes and the Arkansas Derby.

As well as the first two legs of the Triple Crown. He was undefeated going into the Belmont Stakes and when he got chased down in the final 100 yards by Birdstone thousands of people left the track in tears.

He was retired to stud with earnings of more than $7 million, including the bonus, and an 8-1 record.

At a time when horse racing needed hope and dreams, Smarty gave it to the world.

Mystik Dan reminds me of that 3-year-old champion who carried an entire state on his back 20 years ago this year.

He is a horse for the Oaklawn course, as are his Arkansas owners Lance and Bobbi Jo Gasaway, who own a farm in Gould, Daniel and Lisa Hamby from Hot Springs and Sharilyn and Brent Gasaway of Little Rock.

Mystik Dan trained exclusively at Oaklawn until the Kentucky Derby, which of course he won before finishing second to Seize the Grey in the Preakness.

Those were the only two horses who ran every leg of the Triple Crown and neither hit the board, which is not unusual when 3-year-olds are tested three times in five weeks.

As disappointing as it was for his owners and fans, Mystik Dan is forever in the history books as the winner of the Kentucky Derby and now those owners will have to make some big decisions about continuing to race or take one of the multi-million offers to turn him into a stud.

They have already been approached about Ma’am, Mystik Dan’s mom.

Whatever they decide, they gave racing fans in Arkansas something to cheer about.