Goldencents colt romps by 8 in Southwest S. (G3)

Mystik Dan earned his first graded stakes victory in dominating fashion on Saturday afternoon at Oaklawn Park with an eight-length tally in the $800,000 Southwest S. (G3).

The 3-year-old Goldencents colt picked up the winner’s share of 20 points in the Road to the Kentucky Derby Challenge series. The Southwest is the first of Oaklawn’s three graded Kentucky Derby prep races.

Mystik Dan broke very well from post nine in the field of 11 and made his way to the inside rail going into the first turn. He settled back in midpack as the leaders carved out a half-mile in :47.95. He continued to hug the rail while edging closer on the final bend, then when a narrow opening appeared in upper stretch, he rocketed through and immediately opened up on the field and won going away in 1:43.67 on a muddy racetrack.

“He got away in good order, and I was able to save ground around both turns,” said winning rider Brian Hernandez, Jr. “When I asked him around the second turn, he responded. We had to wait for a hole to open up, but when it did, he just shot through it. This was his second time around two turns, and he’s learned his lessons well.”

In earning his first stakes victory, Mystik Dan upped his record to 2-1-0 in five starts and has earned $510,110 for his breeder/owner team of Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby and 4G Racing LLC.

“We just need to be patient and wait (for the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on March 30),” said trainer Kenny McPeek. “We’ve got plenty of time and he’s a fit horse. And if we go into the Arkansas Derby, they’re going to have run their tail off to beat us.”

Pedigree Notes from the TDN

Goldencents now has 27 black-type winners worldwide. Mystik Dan is his sire’s seventh graded winner and the first foal out of the Colonel John mare Ma’am. This is also the family of Grade 1 winner Siphonic and millionaire and multiple graded winner Dixie Dot Com.