Kentucky Derby Winner Settling In At Airdrie Stud

[Wandering Eyes]

There's a certain buzz that comes with welcoming a Kentucky Derby winner to a stallion roster. Bret Jones knows the feeling from when Mage retired to Airdrie Stud in 2024. This year, they're repeating the milestone with Mystik Dan (Goldencents), who arrived at the Midway, Kentucky farm three weeks ago.

“We've been totally busy since we announced that we were showing him,” said Jones. “Everybody wants to see a Kentucy Derby winner. Breeders are coming away impressed with not only how well he handles everything, but with what a beautifully balanced colt he is. He's made like a sire. He's that medium-sized, well-balanced horse with plenty of strength.”

Also joining Airdrie Stud's roster in 2026 is 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' Jonathan's Way, the first son of Vekoma to go to stud. Among the farm's other young stallions, Mage ($15,000) will send his first yearlings to auction next year while Happy Saver ($7,500) and Highly Motivated ($7,500) will see their first juveniles hit the track. Meanwhile Girvin ($30,000) will be represented by his first Kentucky-bred crop at the races.

MYSTIK DAN (Goldencents – Ma'am, by Colonel John). Standing for $15,000

The GI Kentucky Derby may have been Mystik Dan's crowning achievement, but Jones said that the star colt's performances leading up to the first leg of the Triple Crown is what first captured the Airdrie team's attention.

The son of Goldencents broke his maiden in his second career start as a 2-year-old for Kenny McPeek, winning by nearly eight lengths going five and a half furlongs at Churchill Downs.

“Kenny would be the first one to tell you they knew early on that this was a very special horse,” said Jones. “He ran a 96 Beyer Speed Figure and could not have been more impressive.”

On the road to the Kentucky Derby, Mystik Dan won the GIII Southwest Stakes and was third in the GI Arkansas Derby. His dramatic victory on the first Saturday in May—where he shot through a narrow opening along the rail to win by a nose for owners Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing, Daniel Hamby III, and Valley View Farm—was made more impressive by the continued success of his rivals. Future Breeders' Cup Classic winners Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) and Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) rounded out the Derby trifecta.

Mystik Dan defeats Sierra Leone and Forever Young in the 2024 GI Kentucky Derby | Coady Media

“I kind of have a chip on my shoulder about the horse,” admitted Jones. “You hear people say, 'Well, he won his biggest races at Churchill Downs' or, 'He won because he came up the rail.' He was able to come up the rail because he's an exceptionally quick-footed horse and he could hit that hole when a lot of other horses couldn't. After that he goes to Pimlico for the Preakness two weeks after that really gutting Derby and runs a great second in an American Classic. This horse took his track with him.”

As a 4-year-old this year, Mystik Dan's six starts were highlighted by wins in the GIII Blame Stakes and GII Lukas Classic Stakes. He had been pointing for a bid in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, but was scratched ahead of the race by regulatory veterinarians as a precaution.

Mystik Dan retired with lifetime earnings exceeding $4.8 million.

“His win in the Lukas Classic was extremely impressive,” said Jones. “He had the turn of foot to get between some nice horses and out-finish a good Steve Asmussen colt [MGISP Disarm (Gun Runner)]. Obviously we wished that his last race was going to be in the Breeders' Cup. I think the two-turn dirt mile would have fit him perfectly, just as his sire won two Breeders' Cup Dirt Miles.”

Jones reported that since Mystik Dan has arrived at Airdrie Stud, the blaze-faced bay has quickly settled into his new surroundings.

“He's such a good-minded horse,” he said. “Watching the way he has handled the crowds, you can tell why he was able to do his best running in front of 150,000 people. He has settled in here better than any stallion I can ever remember.”

JONATHAN'S WAY (Vekoma – Female Drama, by Indian Charlie). Standing for $8,500.

Jonathan's Way takes in the scenery at Airdrie Stud | Sara Gordon

After Jonathan's Way delivered a standout juvenile campaign, trainer Phil Bauer and owner Rigney Racing had high hopes for his 3-year-old season. But the day before this year's GII Risen Star Stakes, the colt was diagnosed with an infection that developed into a life-threatening case of colitis.

Jonathan's Way recovered after several months, and although he was never able to race again, his connections remained confident in his ability.

The Airdrie team agreed.

“Both our camp and the Rigney team want to give him the opportunity to show that he will be a special sire,” said Jones.

Bred by Susan L. Anderson Racing, Jonathan's Way became the most expensive weanling in Vekoma's first crop when he sold for $290,000 at the 2022 Keeneland November Sale.

Last year as a 2-year-old, he was one of the talking horses of the Saratoga meet after his debut, where he overcame a troubled start and blew by rivals to win by 4 1/4 lengths going six furlongs and earn Rising Star honors. In his next start in the GIII Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs, he took the lead early and never looked back, winning by 2 3/4 lengths.

After a bid in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Jonathan's Way ran second to First Resort (Uncle Mo) in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes to conclude his juvenile campaign.

Vekoma, who was the leading first-crop sire in North America last year, is once again at the top in nearly every category among second-crop sires. The Spendthrift stallion will stand for a fee of $100,000 in 2026.

“When you have a horse of Jonathan's Way's physical and the first horse to market by a really exciting stallion in Vekoma, those are major feathers in his cap and it will guarantee interest,” Jones said.

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