Mystik Dan

Mystik Dan
Mystik Dan in 2024
Sire	Goldencents
Grandsire	Into Mischief
Dam	Ma'am
Damsire	Colonel John
Sex	Colt
Foaled	(2021-03-04) March 4, 2021 (age 4) Kentucky, U.S. [1]
Country	United States
Color	Bay
Breeder	Homebred
Owner	Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby, 4G Racing, and Valley View Farm
Trainer	Kenneth McPeek
Record	16: 5 – 3 – 1
Earnings	US$4,819,160 [2]
Major wins
Southwest Stakes (2024) Blame Stakes (2025) Lukas Classic Stakes (2025) American Triple Crown wins: Kentucky Derby (2024)
Last updated on 28 September 2025

Mystik Dan (foaled March 4, 2021) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. ^[3] Jockeyed by Brian Hernandez Jr., he won the 2024 Kentucky Derby by a nose, beating Sierra Leone and Forever Young with a time of 2:03.34. ^[4]

Background

Mystik Dan is a bay colt bred in Kentucky by Lance Gasaway and Daniel Hamby. ^[5] His name is derived by a combination of Hamby's father's first name (Dan) with his father's first business venture (Mystik Tape). ^[6] He is a descendent of Darley Arabian. ^[7]

Mystik Dan's dam Ma'am was bought by trainer Kenneth McPeek for the owners and he recommended the mating of Goldencents to her. The colt was foaled at his Magdalena Farm near Lexington. Goldencents, a two-time Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner, stands for $10,000 at Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky (2024). ^[8]

Stud

It was announced that the conclusion of Mystik Dan's racing career he would stand at Airdrie Stud in Kentucky. His initial stud fee would be $15,000. ^[9]

Statistics

Date	Distance	Race	Grade	Track	Odds	Field	Finish	Winning Time	Winning (Losing) Margin	Jockey	Ref
2023 – Two-year-old season
Oct 22, 2023	6+1⁄2 furlongs	Maiden Special Weight		Keeneland	12.83	11	2	1:18.24	(1+1⁄4 lengths)	Brian Hernandez Jr.	[10]
Nov 12, 2023	5+1⁄2 furlongs	Maiden Special Weight		Churchill Downs	0.82*	10	1	1:35.68	7+3⁄4 lengths	Brian Hernandez Jr.	[11]
Nov 25, 2023	1 mile	Allowance		Churchill Downs	2.14*	11	5	1:37.94	(8 lengths)	Brian Hernandez Jr.	[12]
2024 – Three-year-old season
Jan 1, 2024	1+1⁄16 miles	Smarty Jones Stakes	Listed	Oaklawn Park	7.90	9	5	1:44.59	(3+1⁄4 lengths)	Julien Leparoux	[13]
Feb 3, 2024	1+1⁄16 miles	Southwest Stakes	III	Oaklawn Park	11.40	11	1	1:43.67	8 lengths	Brian Hernandez Jr.	[14]
Mar 30, 2024	1+1⁄8 miles	Arkansas Derby	I	Oaklawn Park	4.00	10	3	1:49.54	(6+1⁄4 lengths)	Brian Hernandez Jr.	[15]
May 4, 2024	1+1⁄4 miles	Kentucky Derby	I	Churchill Downs	18.61	20	1	2:03.34	nose	Brian Hernandez Jr.	[16]
May 18, 2024	1+3⁄16 miles	Preakness Stakes	I	Pimlico	2.40*	8	2	1:56.82	(2+1⁄4 lengths)	Brian Hernandez Jr.	[17]
Jun 8, 2024	1+1⁄4 miles	Belmont Stakes	I	Saratoga	6.40	10	8	2:01.64	(15+4⁄4 lengths)	Brian Hernandez Jr.	[18]
Dec 26, 2024	7 furlongs	Malibu Stakes	I	Santa Anita	3.10	6	6	1:21.54	(11+1⁄4 lengths)	Brian Hernandez Jr.	[19]
2025 – Four-year-old season
Jan 25, 2025	1+1⁄8 miles	Pegasus World Cup	I	Gulfstream Park	12.30	11	9	1:48.05	(20+3⁄4 lengths)	Brian Hernandez Jr.	[20]
May 3, 2025	1+1⁄16 miles	Lake Ouachita Stakes		Oaklawn Park	1.60	6	2	1:42.25	(nose)	Francisco Arrieta	[21]
May 31, 2025	1+1⁄8 miles	Blame Stakes	III	Churchill Downs	3.06	7	1	1:48.45	1+1⁄4 lengths	Brian Hernandez Jr.	[22]
Jun 28, 2025	1+1⁄8 miles	Stephen Foster Stakes	I	Churchill Downs	5.30	6	4	1:47.48	(2+1⁄2 lengths)	Brian Hernandez Jr.	[23]
Aug 9, 2025	1+1⁄4 miles	Arlington Million	I	Colonial Downs	3.70	7	4	1:59.58	(3+1⁄2 lengths)	Brian Hernandez Jr.	[24]
Sep 27, 2025	1+1⁄8 miles	Lukas Classic Stakes	II	Churchill Downs	1.57*	7	1	1:49.25	3⁄4 length	Francisco Arrieta	[25]

Notes:
An (*) asterisk after the odds means Mystik Dan was the post-time favorite.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Mystik Dan, Bay, foaled March 4, 2021 ^[1]

Sire Goldencents (2010)	Into Mischief (2005)	Harlan's Holiday (1999)	Harlan (1989)
			Christmas in Aiken (1992)
		Leslie's Lady (1996)	Tricky Creek (1986)
			Crystal Lady (1990)
	Golden Works (2000)	Banker's Gold (1994)	Forty Niner (1985)
			Banker's Lady (1985)
		Body Works (CAN) (1989)	Bold Ruckus (1976)
			Kinto (1980)
Dam Ma'am (2013)	Colonel John (2005)	Tiznow (1997)	Cee's Tizzy (1987)
			Cee's Song (1986)
		Sweet Damsel (1995)	Turkoman (1982)
			Grande Dame (1986)
	Lady Siphonica (2002)	Siphon (BRZ) (1991)	Itajara (BRZ) (1983)
			Ebrea (1979)
		Cherokee Crossing (1991)	Cherokee Colony (1985)
			Sky Meadows (1986)

References

1. "Pedigree of Mystik Dan". Equineline. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
2. "Profile of Mystik Dan" . Retrieved September 28, 2025.
3. Ackerman, Nathan (May 4, 2024). "Mystik Dan wins 150th Kentucky Derby in photo finish". NBC Sports . Retrieved May 4, 2024.
4. Frakes, Jason. "Mystik Dan wins Kentucky Derby 150 at Churchill Downs". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
5. "Mystik Dan". Kentucky Derby. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
6. Mystik Dan name, explained: Origin of the moniker for the 2024 Kentucky Derby winner
7. "Mystik Dan".
8. King, Byron (February 3, 2024). "McPeek's Mystik Dan Surprises in Sloppy Southwest Band of Gold becomes Preservationist's first stakes winner in Martha Washington". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
9. "Mystik Dan to Debut on Airdrie's Roster at $15,000 Fee; Girvin tops the farm's roster at $30,000, Jonathan's Way to debut at $8,500". bloodhorse.com. October 8, 2025. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
10. "Chart for Maiden Special Weight October 22, 2023 at Keeneland – Race 8". Equibase. October 22, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
11. "Chart for Maiden Special Weight November 12, 2023 at Churchill Downs – Race 4". Equibase. November 12, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
12. "Allowance – (Race 7)". Equibase. November 25, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
13. "Smarty Jones Stakes (Listed) – (race 9)". January 1, 2024. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
14. "Southwest Stakes (G3) (Race 11)". February 3, 2024. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
15. "Arkansas Derby (G1)". March 30, 2024. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
16. "150th Kentucky Derby" (PDF). May 4, 2024. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
17. "Preakness Stakes Grade 1 (race 13)". May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
18. "Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets Grade 1 - (race 12)". Equibase. June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
19. "Malibu Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. December 26, 2024. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
20. "2025 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Grade 1 (race 13)". www.equibase.com. January 25, 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
21. "Lake Ouachita Stakes (Black Type) – (race 1)". May 3, 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
22. "Geade III Blame Stakes" (PDF). May 31, 2025. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
23. "Stephen Foster Stakes Grade 1 (race 11)". Equibase. June 28, 2025. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
24. "Arlington Million Stakes Grade 1 (race 11)". Equibase. August 9, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
25. "Lukas Classic Stakes Grade 2 (Race 10)" (PDF). Equibase. September 27, 2025. Retrieved September 27, 2025.