Nothing Mystik About Dan
We have already written about one horse, Sovereignty, who was scratched from the Breeders’ Cup. Let’s continue with that narrative with two others who were scratched, this time by the veterinarians. The Mystik Dan segment is not about that scratch, but about a little-known, or even unknown, legacy he has left. The second segment is about White Abarrio’s tumultuous final two months of 2025, including his controversial Breeders’ Cup scratch and the drama that has accompanied him throughout his career. ~ Steve Haskin
Nothing Mystik About Dan
By Steve Haskin
Let’s push the clock ahead, say 10 years. Someone asks you to tell them briefly what you remember about the 2024 Kentucky Derby. You don’t hesitate. First you tell them that it was the first Derby in history with three horses finishing noses apart. Next you tell them about the controverial stretch run with Sierra Leone lugging in on Forever Young every step of the way and the shoving match between the two horses that ended with runner-up Sierra Leone’s jockey Tyler Gallalione getting fined by the stewards for reaching over approaching the wire and touching Forever Young, as if using him for support.
Finally you tell them that was the year Kenny McPeek made history by becoming the first trainer since Ben Jones in 1952 to win the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks in the same year.
Then that someone says, “Wow, that was some memorable and exciting Derby, but you neglected to mention one thing; who won the race?” to which you reply, “Oh, yeah, I forgot about that. The winner was Mystik Dan.”
In short, has there ever been a Kentucky Derby when so many events within the race overshadowed the winner? Sure, we had Country House and Mandaloun who were awarded the Derby in 2019 and 2021 by disqualification, one on-track and one off-track, and neither is going to be the center of attention when their respective Derbys are discussed. But Mystik Dan was a deserving winner and ran his heart out after having to bull his way precariously between the horse directly in front of him and the rail. Not many horses or jockeys would have attempted such a perilous move, even in the Derby. Whether he was the best horse is immaterial. The focus of this column goes far beyond that.
While taking a much closer look at Mystik Dan’s career the same day he arrived at Airdrie Stud following his retirement, I dug deep and came across a statistic that I felt had to be shared, as it would not be fair to the horse’s legacy to let it go unmentioned. And I do have a streak of copywriter in me, so I’m going to play “Mad Men” this week.
First off, although we are aware that Mystik Dan did not win another Grade 1 stakes after the Derby, he did, however, become the first Derby winner since California Chrome in 2014 to win a stakes as a 4-year-old, taking the Grade 2 Lukas Classic and Grade 3 Blame Stakes, making him the only horse in memory to have won two graded stakes at Churchill Downs after winning the Derby.
But that brings us to the statistic that inspired this column. Mystik Dan it is safe to say is the only horse in history to have defeated the winners of 17 individual million-dollar races, including the three richest dirt races in the world — the Saudi Cup, Dubai World Cup, and Breeders’ Cup Classic. The winners of those 17 races — Forever Young, Fierceness, Sierra Leone, Dornoch, Antiquarian, Hit Show, Banishing, and Catching Freedom — earned a total of just over $40 million in their career. He also is only one of two horses to have defeated two Breeders’ Cup Classic winners in the same race, the other occurring 37 years ago when Cutlass Reality upset Alysheba and Ferdinand in the 1988 Hollywood Gold Cup.
To me, these stats, especially the main one, are overwhelming enough to remove Mystik Dan from the shadow of the 2024 Kentucky Derby and into the spotlight. Let’s also remember that Mystik Dan proved he can beat you in many ways — by a nose, three-quarters of a length, and 1 1/4 lengths or by eight lengths and 7 3/4 lengths.
In a thrilling finish, Mystik Dan, right, defeats Sierra Leone and Forever Young in the Kentucky Derby.
What makes Mystik Dan all the more interesting is that his pedigree, which is a complete outcross, gave no indication that the Kentucky Derby should have been even a faint dream. First off, his sire, grandsire, and great-grandsire all ran in the Derby and were beaten a total of 76 lengths.
As for his female family, his dam, Ma’am, failed to meet her $9,500 reserve at the Keeneland September yearling sale and wound up running in eight claiming races. His second dam, Lady Siphonica, raced eight times, losing her last seven starts by a total of 133 lengths. His third dam, Cherokee Crossing, was 0-for-17 and ran for a $40,000 claiming tag. And his fourth dam, Sky Meadows, was unraced. However, this was a fairly strong female line, tracing to Rokeby Stable, to Ribot through dual classic winner Pleasant Colony, and to Meadow Stable foundation mare Hildene. There just wasn’t much success on the racetrack in the first several generations.
But, as has often been the case, there was one person in the mix who had a history of taking low-priced horses at the sale, many with mediocre pedigrees or minor physical issues that turned off buyers, and making stars out of them. That person was Kenny McPeek, who in 2015 was informed by a mutual friend of Kentucky legend Ted Bassett’s, that Bassett and his wife Lucy had a pair of homebred 2-year-olds they were looking to sell. McPeek went to the farm and purchased one of them, an “attractive” daughter of Colonel John for Arkansas native Lance Gasaway, who was looking “for something to race,” according to McPeek.
Gasaway, along with his cousin Brent Gasaway and his wife Sharilyn and their son and daughter, who race under the name 4G Stable, and David Hamby III, raced Ma’am with McPeek training her, and although she competed only in claiming and allowance races, winning four races and finishing in the money in nine of her 23 starts, she did win three of those races by 6 3/4 lengths or more. She retired with earnings of almost $168,000, with Brad Cox, who was red-hot at the time, taking over her training for her final six starts.
But following her retirement, McPeek convinced Gasaway to keep her, feeling she was sound and tough and would make a good broodmare. Gasaway agreed and sent her to McPeek’s Magdalena Farm in Kentucky. Feeling she needed to be bred to stallion who possessed a good deal of speed, McPeek recommended Goldencents, a son of Into Mischief, whose sire Harlan’s Holiday was trained by McPeek. The resulting foal was Mystik Dan, who was born and raised at Magdalena Farm and broken and trained at McPeek’s Silverleaf Training Center in Ocala, Florida.
So it is safe to say Mystik Dan is a complete Kenny McPeek package, from buying and training his dam, recognizing her potential as a broodmare, and recommending his sire to foaling him, breaking him, and training him.
“He was such a laid-back horse and so easy to break,” recalled Dominic Brennan, assistant trainer in charge at Silverleaf. “It was as if he was broken from day one. Whatever you asked him to do it was like, ‘OK, I can do that. What do you want me to do next?’ The one thing that stamped him as a potential good horse was that everything came so easy to him. He’d run on glass if you asked him to.”
That pretty much proved to be the case, as he won the Kentucky Derby, Lukas Classic, and Blame Stakes on a fast track, won the Southwest Stakes by eight lengths and was second in the Preakness on a muddy track, and finished a solid fourth, beaten only 3 1/2 lengths, in the Grade 1 Arlington Million in his grass debut.
When it was time to name the colt, it was Daniel Hamby’s turn. His father, whose name was Dan, had a tape company named Mystik, so Mystik Dan it was.
He is now at Airdrie Stud, and brings with him a remarkable accomplishment that won’t be found simply by looking at his record and his bare statistics. There is a common saying, “The rich get richer.” Not when they face Mystik Dan.
Wacky Conclusion to 2025 for White Abarrio
We all are well aware of the frightening and bizarre incident that occurred shortly after the start of The Jockey Club Gold Cup involving Mindframe, Irad Ortiz, and White Abarrio. But once again let’s push the clock ahead 10 years and you have to describe what happened to someone not familiar with the race.
There are several ways to go about it. But this is the way I would choose. I would begin by saying, in a nutshell, you had a jockey who takes off one horse to ride another horse and winds up on the back of both horses during the race. “Huh?” you ask. “Please explain that.”
OK, here goes. Irad Ortiz, one of the most sought after jockeys in the country, has a decision to make. When entries are drawn for the 1 1/4-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup, Ortiz has to decide if he is going to ride the Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained White Abarrio, who he has ridden in his last 10 starts, winning the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic, Whitney, and Pegasus World Cup, or if he is he going to ride the Todd Pletcher-trained and Mike Repole-owned Mindframe, who he has ridden in every one of his seven lifetime starts, winning the Grade 1 Stephen Foster and Churchill Downs Stakes and never finishing worse than second?
Considering the owner and trainer, he naturally chooses Mindframe, who is unbeaten in three starts in 2025, with Edgard Zayas getting the mount on White Abarrio. Shortly after the start, Phileas Fogg, on the outside, ducks in causing a muilti-horse chain reaction that forces White Abrarrio into Mindframe. Ortiz falls off Mindframe and somehow lands on the back of his longtime partner White Abarrio, the horse he decided not to ride. Ortiz’s intrusion atop White Abarrio’s tiny saddle forces Zayas off the other side. Ortiz, amazingly still holding on to Mindframe’s reigns, reaches over and pulls Zayas, who is heading for a fall, back on the saddle. He has no other recourse but to try to leap back on Mindframe, which was a phyisical impossibility, and winds up falling between the two horses while still erect and trying to hold on to the reins with his left hand and Zayas’s arm with his right hand. Of course, with both horses running at near full speed he naturally falls hard to the ground.
Jockey Irad Ortiz tries to hang on between White Abarrio and Mindframe in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Right behind, there suddenly appeared the powerful presence of Sierra Leone, who had to swerve sharply, his head yanked hard to the right, in an effort to avoid trampling the fallen rider. Sierra Leone somehow made it over him without causing severe damage. Although Ortiz suffered minor injuries to his left wrist and right ribcage, with all X-rays coming up negative, it is likely that the actions of Sierra Leone and his rider Flavien Prat saved him from far more serious injuries.
While a riderless Mindframe ran harmlessly around the track, eventually heading to the outside rail, White Abarrio, with Zayas losing an iron, never threatened and finished fifth, but bounced back with a blazing three-furlong work in :33 3/5 at Gulfstream Park and became a serious contender for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at the more favorable shorter distance. He reportedly was scrutinized by veterinarians at Del Mar, jogging up and down the path numerous times for days, including the morning of the race, and was given clearance to run. But following the post parade another veterinarian didn’t like what he saw and ordered the horse scratched. This led to a legal dispute, with the horse’s owners retaining counsel and demanding a transparent investigation into the incident.
The 6-year-old White Abarrio has had a roller coaster career, including being taken away from Joseph after a controversial incident involving the trainer and Churchill Downs, who suspended Joseph from running and stabling there. That suspension was lifted a month later, but before that, White Abarrio was transferred to the barn of Rick Dutrow, who won the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Whitney with him. A year later he was returned to Joseph after two disappointing efforts.
So turmoil has followed this horse around since he took racing by storm, winning four of his first five starts, including the Florida Derby, before finishing 16th in the Kentucky Derby, beaten 20 lengths. No decision has been made about White Abarrio’s future plans. But whenever he is retired, this striking, almost pure white horse, who has never been boring, has often been exciting, and has always been unpredictable, will surely be missed.
Photos courtesy of Lloyd Fox, Baltimore Sun; Michael Clevenger and Christopher Granger/USA TODAY Sports; Skip Dickstein; and Ryan Thompson.
Racing historian, author, and award-winning retired journalist for the Daily Racing Form and The Blood-Horse, Steve Haskin was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame’s Media Roll of Honor in 2016. Known for his racing knowledge and insightful prose, he has been an exclusive contributor to Secretariat.com since 2020.
I got to hang out with Kenny and Dan a few days before the Derby. Dan was visiting with a group who promote careers in racing, and Kenny showed up with Sonny (his yellow lab) and his daughter. Dan was so docile and sweet, he never turned a hair (a 3yo colt!!!). Kenny had him on a long lead and Dan munched grass, sniffed Sonny, and got loved on by Annie. Kenny told the group that Thorpedo Anna was out if they wanted to see her, but to watch out for her as she was prone to grumpiness. I stayed with Dan however and talked with Kenny about how he was my live shot in the Derby. We talked about his closing kick at Oaklawn and we joked about hoping it rained on Derby Day. I did ask about possible distance limitations that others had mentioned (due to Goldencents and Ma’am) and he said “Harlan’s Holiday is two back, he’ll be fine”. I told him and Dan that I hoped they won, took a ton of photos, and departed so he could spend time with him. After the Derby, Kenny was walking up to Dan on the turf…holding the hand of a beaming Annie, and I hollered as I took photos “He did it Kenny!”. I am sure the moment was overwhelming for him, but I had pride that I picked out another Derby winner that few saw coming…
The ambulance follows the horse race, on the far outside…..at Evangeline—the ambulance ran against traffic, and on the rail—that HAD to be intentional! I once drove home on the freeway—another car was going against traffic, it was SUDDEN and FAST!…
Scary stuff, Matthew W!
Weren’t you big on Giocoso? He had a good weekend, winning the Commonwealth Turf Stakes at Churchill. He’s a millionaire now!
Close, Katy…but I was big, on Filoso, a gigantic horse who has not panned out so far..
Congratulations Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior.
Mystik Dan, a tough strong horse that has yet to get his due as the winner of Derby 150 and multiple other graded stakes. One of my all-time favorite turf writers, Steve Haskins, goes a long way with this article to help us all appreciate Mystik Dan.
Steve Haskin is a remarkable turf writer. I think you will enjoy this article.
Bingo!
Hey, good news for Heart of Honor fans–I just read that he won the Nakheel Stakes at Meydan by 7 1/4 lengths!
Congratulations!
I won $2100 on Mystik Dan, in The Derby—pure luck! He was 3rd best by probably 3 lengths—had Sierra run straight, he and Forever Young runs in the exacta….’Dan proved that he wanted less that 10 furlongs, and the other two proved they were 10 furlong stalwarts….but Mystik Dan ruled the Derby Day, and will be remembered as such….Iron Leoge beat Gallant Man and Roynd Table….Go For Gin beat Holy Bull and Tabasco Cat (and Concern? was he in there?)….
Not sure I’m crazy about the recently-unveiled artwork for Derby 152. The horses are trampling the roses!
It’s terrible. I’m part color blind but Blue spires and pink roses on the Derby glass. The derby glass looks like it should have a Pink Lady in it, certainly not a preferred bourbon Julep. I got a most of the glasses going back to 64 ( that Derby my Dad made me watch at 8 years old.. I won’t be buying this one!
Me either arlingtonfan and Derek.
Looking at it again I believe it’s computer generated!
Yes, probably AI.
So many good equine artists out there.
The one for the Oaks is not much better.
I think all Derby winners are special because of what it takes to get there, and to actually accomplish the thing. And I’ll add that Mystik Dan was my Derby horse, and I made a very nice return on my investment that day. I’ll always remember him for several reasons, that one included. I was at Santa Anita the day that his sire, Goldencents, won the SA Derby, and when I heard that he had this nice son in the Derby, I became a fan, and still am.
Headline “Gr1 Winner Mizzen Mast Euthanized”….well he lived 27 years….
Mizzen Mast and his son, Midshipman are really good turf influences, mostly under the radar.
I really liked Mizzen Mast. His sire, Cozzene, was a delight, too. Sad that the Caro sireline is close to drying up. Full Serrano carries some hopes.
There was “Ussery’s Alley”, an inside part of Aqueduct (I think) nearing the half mile pole….and Mystik Dan’s rail—his preferred trip to victory, it seems like all his big wins were from inside seams….
Mystic Dan has a beautiful head, with the almost Arabian dish. Calm attitude and a pure professional. If Mindframe, White Abarrio, and Sierra Leone didnt have nerves of steel, the JCGC could have ended tragically. I wouldn’t mind having a foal by any of the above. Thanks Steve for a terrific story.
Steve I could read your work all day long. As for Mystic Dan for me there are no shadows with him. Like you pointed out he beat at on time or another all of those Grade 1 winners but the fact that every generation has one shot on that special day that invokes so much anticipation, hope, revelry and emotion in us . Tears will flow when they sing My Kentucky Home ( When they would sing it) now it’s the lump in my throat. Mystic Dan won that stretch duel ( and blew my trifecta) and I tip my hat to him! Derby winners are just special as they should be! a Class of their own. As for Kenny Mcpeek Mystic Dan is the product of his diligence and his knowledge. Don’t you just love it when a plan comes together. Congatulations!
Thank you Derek. Terrific post and very well said.
I have to admit that with a nickname Derby Derek I do have TDS—– Total Derby Syndrome LOL
Steve,
Thanks for the insight on two horse I did not know alot about their backgrounds. I was expecting a few more wins from Mystik Dan. I several of his race I felt he was too close to the front running pace which left him with little left when he got to the stretch. White Abarrio on the other hand was a horse when he showed up could beat anybody that day and then others times he left you scratching your head on what happen?? I hope they do well at stud though I don’t expect much from either of them since they don’t have very fashionable pedigrees for today’s breeders. We will just have to see what happens with both.
Have a great week Steve. Always enjoy your column.
Down, he ran in all three TC races, which was a mistake. You’re aware connections tanked him as result, which required time off. Sorry he disappointed you, I wasn’t.
I have mixed feelings about your statement , Mike. It is probably true that running in the Belmont had negative consequenced to MD’s career. But as recently as 20 years ago, it was common and expected for good horses to show up in all three races. It seems that no matter how modern horses are handled, they just can’t run often at a top level. The top 3 and 4 year olds ran so sparingly this year, it was like they were in witness protection. I’ll admit i find it admirable when horses are campaigned aggressively. Sometimes it doesn’t work out. And look at Sovereignty. He was protected, but missed the big race anyway.
Todd, thanks for your insights. Agree with your regarding horses running less,not like John Henry, 83 races.
You’re mistaken as Mystik Dan did not disappoint me it was some of the rides given by the jockey that disappointed me. He was my #1 pick for the KD that year.
As far running in all the TC races I had no problem with that what is a problem is the lack of transparency on why he was shut down after it. Maybe Mc Peek will give some insight into that now that he is retired.
“Lack of transparency”. Almost every trainer does that. Mc Peek isn’t on my hit parade, like many others.
Both great synopsis of two of my favorite horses in recent years. I was sorely disappointed when I saw White Abarrio scratched. He is a gorgeous horse and looked breathtaking when I was down in the paddock area. But who am I but an ardent fan.
It just was so surprising to see him walking back with the outrider and her pony and you could almost see him with a quizzical look in his eyes like wait I was out there to run how come I have to go back to the barn. The lady outrider was comforting him and patting him on the neck that was really really heartwarming to see.
Didn’t get to see Mystik Dan. But Scylla did it for team McPeek!
Thank you for these articles and I hope you and your family have a beautiful Thanksgiving. Holiday.
Steve Haskin thanks for the fascinating history and pedigree information about Mystic Dan. Kenny McPeak is brilliant in finding reasonably priced horses who have much potential to win in the highest stakes. While McPeak was a student at the University of Kentucky he spent many hours immersed in reading back issues of Blood Horse in the library. He now is a one stop shop when it comes to horses breeding, training, and racing.
Regarding White Abarrio, he’s been vetted by his team. And if everything checks out okay, why not run him in the Pegasus World Cup in late January of 2026? He loves Gulfstream and that could be his swan song.
Great recap on Mystik Dan…he was my derby horse….it seems as though he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves from some racing fans….but he won the Kentucky Derby fair and square beating a couple of horses named Forever Young and Sierra Leone…thank you for giving him credit for his accomplishments…
Thank you, Steve. I really love these two horses. I have always liked Dan’s pedigree a lot, really because of the absence of close-up inbreeding. I like to see someone getting the good out of what’s left of Man O’ War’s bloodline. I am not surprised about the colt starter’s comments. Dan just always seems like a brave, level-headed, work hard for you type. That’s how I like ‘em, no matter what job they have. I actually like his chances at stud, and think Airdrie is a nice fit.
Horse Racing Nation lists the Pegasus as White Abarrio’s next potential start, which may or may not be true. If he is sound, it could be a great swan song for Whitey. He has done mighty well at Gulfstream. What do we think about him as a potential stud? There are so many Tapit-bred stallions at various price points, but he has a serious resume with undeniable longevity. I’d think there would be interest in a G1 winner at 3, 4, & 6.
“…first Derby winner since California Chrome in 2014 to win a stakes as a 4-year-old…”
A ten-year gap! That’s a scary statistic.
Saw a photo yesterday of Mystic Dan at his new home. Nice down and picks up some weight he will be a gorgeous stallion. Wishing him the very best in his new career.
I so enjoy your back stories on the pedigrees.
White Abarrio, what can I say other than how much I love him. He just seems to have bad luck. I agree with Ms B in hoping he finds redemption on the track before retiring. Perhaps he will retire to Japan. They do love and cherish their white Thoroughbreds.
Somewhat sad to hear that the farm in Kentucky that bred white Thorougbreds some years ago has been sold and a shopping mall is being built.
In one of the Touch Gold tributes, he was described as having a distinctive and slightly feminine head. I think this is also true of Mystik Dan. Like TG, he is a very appealing horse to me, visually.
Echoing you in hoping Whitey gets the chance to retire somewhere really nice and live a long and happy life. They’ve got to be seriously thinking about doing that soon, right?
Shopping malls seem like they might be an even worse investment than horses. They’re tearing a big one of ours down because stores couldn’t afford the rent, so it became a ghost mall. I used to go to the movies there for $2 Tuesdays. $6 would get you a feature, popcorn, and a Cherry Coke. Those days are long gone.
Great comments, Katy! Agreed.
I’m breeding to Mystik Dan. Using a mare by Summer Front…in other words, doubling up on Cherokee Crossing. In my dreams, this story isn’t over. Kenny buys the resulting foal and gets another Derby or Oaks winner. Always dreaming 🙂
Good luck to you, Moonsie!
Cool, Moonsie! Please keep us posted over the next 2-4(+) years if you think of it!
Best wishes for a happy, healthy and beautiful mare and foal.
Please keep us updated.
Steve: Even though racing has gone very quiet now in November, you continue to find stories that amaze me. Arguably Mystik Dan was lucky to win the Derby, but he fit the profile of so many recent winners: brilliance in spring prep and peaking at the right time. I’ll be cheering him on his new career as a stallion. I notice he not only is a complete outcross in his first five generations, so is his dam, Ma’am. And I was very sorry not to see White Abarrio run in the Mile. If he races again, I hope he acquits himself well.