Derby Winner Mystik Dan Back To His Best In the Blame

[Wandering Eyes]

Off as the 3-1 third betting choice off a bounce-back second in the Lake Ouachita Stakes at Oaklawn Park exactly a year after his upset victory in the GI Kentucky Derby, MYSTIK DAN (c, 4, Goldencents–Ma'am, by Colonel John) capitalized on a perfect trip from just behind the speed, cut the corner into the stretch and kicked home nicely to take Saturday's GIII Blame Stakes. He becomes the first Derby winner to subsequently win a race beneath the Twin Spires since Silver Charm backed up his win in the 1997 Run for the Roses in the GI Clark Handicap in 1998. A rail-skimming fourth as Alexander Helios (Cairo Prince) set the pace in advance of Antiquarian (Preservationist) and a three-deep 'TDN Rising Star' Hall of Fame (Gun Runner), Mystik Dan was ridden quietly and when Alexander Helios hoisted the white flag at the five-sixteenths, Hernandez, Jr. guided him to his outside and was just as quickly back down onto the fence once heads were turned for home. Displaying a good kick when popped the question in earnest, Mystik Dan went on with things and proved clearly best as a resurgent Antiquarian and late-running Post Time (Frosted) rounded out the minor placings.

Saturday, Churchill Downs
BLAME S.-GIII, $270,000, Churchill Downs, 5-31, 4yo/up, 1 1/8m, 1:48.45, ft.
1–MYSTIK DAN, 118, c, 4, by Goldencents
                1st Dam: Ma'am, by Colonel John
                2nd Dam: Lady Siphonica, by Siphon (Brz)
                3rd Dam: Cherokee Crossing, by Cherokee Colony
O-Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing LLC, Daniel Hamby III and Valley View Farm LLC; B-Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby & 4G Racing LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek; J-Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. $166,710. Lifetime Record: GISW & MGISP, 13-4-3-1, $4,417,570. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Antiquarian, 118, c, 4, Preservationist–Lifetime Memory, by Istan. ($250,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Centennial Farms; B-Brereton C. Jones (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $54,100.
3–Post Time, 118, h, 5, Frosted–Vielsalm, by Fairbanks. ($85,000 Ylg '21 EASOCT). O-Hillwood Stable LLC; B-Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Dr. Brooke Bowman & Milton P Higgins III (MD); T-Brittany T. Russell. $22,050.
Margins: 1 1/4, HD, 1. Odds: 3.06, 9.34, 2.41.
Also Ran: Hall of Fame, Banishing, Tennessee Lamb, Alexander Helios. Scratched: Best Actor, Katonah, Most Wanted.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

Does this look familiar? 2024 Kentucky Derby winner MYSTIK DAN ($8.12) returns to @ChurchillDowns for the first time after that win and rallies up the inside to win the $275,000 Blame Stakes (G3). @b_hernandezjr was in the irons for @KennyMcPeek. pic.twitter.com/f7XghURZ9o

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) May 31, 2025

 

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