Kentucky Derby Winner Mystik Dan Looks at Upcoming Races | News

Sharilyn Gasaway, a Shreveport native and one of Mystik Dan’s owners, told The Shreveport-Bossier Advocate Sunday afternoon that they have not yet decided whether Mystik Dan will run in the Preakness because it will be “all about the health of the horse. .”

She saw Mystic Dan the morning after the Derby and said he was bright-eyed and seemed very happy and content “or maybe he just wanted more peppermint,” she laughed. He will be walked on Sunday and then slowly go into training again.

Of having the Kentucky Derby-winning horse, she said it’s “still a surreal feeling that’s starting to sink in a little bit.”

Along with her husband, Brent, the other owners are Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby III and Valley Wire Farm.

The jockey was Brian Joseph Hernandez Jr. of Lafayette and the trainer is Kenneth G. McPeek.

If Mystik Dan runs in the Preakness, she said Hernandez will be the jockey. Hernandez rode Mystik Dan for all of the Kentucky Derby preliminary races.

The Preakness is two weeks away. The last time Mystik Dan ran within two weeks of a big race, he came down with a lung infection that had to be treated with antibiotics and rest. She said the team doesn’t want that to happen to Mystik Dan again.

Vets will carefully evaluate and monitor Mystik Dan now, especially his food intake, which she said can tell a lot about how a horse is feeling.

The decision on the Preakness will be a last-minute decision, she said. “We want to do justice to the horse.”

“We are so blessed with this horse. He is super talented, we didn’t do anything,” she said. “You can try to put together the best mix,” she said of selective breeding, “but ultimately God is in control.”

12 years ago, Sharilyn and Brent bought their first horse which they named after her, “Sharilyn Jean”. The horse broke his maiden in a $10,000 claiming race. The race was at Churchill Downs, so it was a big deal for them.

Now, they have another very special Churchill Downs race to remember.