Goldencents’ Mystik Dan in post 3 for Kentucky Derby 150

Goldencents’ graded stakes winner Mystik Dan will break from post 3 in Saturday’s $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1).

The bay colt, who will be ridden by Brian Hernandez, Jr.,  is one of 20 3-year-olds set to contest the first leg of the Triple Crown.

Mystik Dan, trained by Kenny McPeek, earned his starting spot in the Derby with a dominating eight-length win in the Southwest S. (G3) Feb. 3 at Oaklawn Park. He came back to be third, despite a wide and troubled trip, in the March 30 Arkansas Derby (G1).

“I like it a lot. When you’re waiting for your number to come up, I told my wife that posts 3 or 7 was good for me,” said McPeek after the post position draw. “He can track right into the turn and he’s a horse that’s proven that he can run inside horses. So he doesn’t need the outside and he’s going to get a shorter trip from this post. So I’m very pleased.”

McPeek trains Mystik Dan for Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing LLC and Valley View Farm LLC, also the colt’s breeders. Mystik Dan has familiarity with the Churchill surface; he broke his maiden by 7 ¾-lengths over the Louisville oval last November. Overall, his record stands at 2-1-1 in six starts, with earnings of $641,360.

Mystik Dan is Goldencents’ leading earner this year, and one of his seven stakes horses to date in 2024. Goldencents is currently in the top 20 on this year’s General Sire list with over $3 million in progeny earnings.