The track was muddy, the favorite was scratched, and 11-1 longshot Mystik Dan was given a patient ride by Brian Hernandez, Jr., for an eight-length victory in the $800,000 Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn Park on Saturday.
The Southwest, rescheduled from Jan. 27 due to cold temperatures, was one of four Kentucky Derby (G1) preps on Saturday – three of them resulting in upsets.
Mystik Dan ($24.80), a maiden winner in four starts coming into the 1 1/16-mile race, earned 20 Derby qualifying points, while Just Steel picked up 10 points with a second-place finish for trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
Derby Day Surprises: Liberal Arts’ Climb and Wynstock’s Misfortune
Liberal Arts was third and earned 6 Derby points, followed by Awesome Road (4 points), Common Defense (2 points), Otto the Conqueror, favorite Carbone, Linebacker, Charleston, Magic Grant, and Wynstock, who got caught in traffic and was slowed in the stretch by jockey Kyle Frey. Maycocks Bay, the 3-1 morning-line favorite, was scratched after spiking a fever on Friday.
The winning time was 1:43.67.
Bob Baffert, who trains Wynstock, was seeking a seventh win in the Southwest.
Mystik Dan’s Journey: From Behind the Leaders to the Finish Line
Mystik Dan broke from post 9 and was moved inside on the first turn, raced behind the leaders Otto the Conqueror, Carbone. Wynstock, and Just Steel, took charge entering the stretch and was eased past the finish line by Hernandez.
“My horse left there quick enough, but not overly quick, to where I was able to get behind the leaders and make my way over to the fence,’’ Hernandez said. “And from there, he just traveled so well the whole way. We were able to save ground on both turns. When we got to the second turn, I called on him and he picked it up. I was able to kind of just wait for a spot. When a seam opened up barely on the inside, he shot through there and did the rest for us.”
Racing Highlights: Mystik Dan’s Next Move and Exciting Derby Preps
McPeek said Mystik Dan would likely skip the Rebel (G2) on Feb. 24, and run next in the Arkansas Derby (G1) on March 30.
Earlier on the card, McPeek and Hernandez teamed up to win the $250,000 Martha Washington, a Kentucky Oaks (G1) points qualifier worth 20 points to the winner.
In the three other Derby preps on Saturday, Uncle Heavy ($20.40) nosed out El Grande O in the $250,000 Withers (G3) at Aqueduct, Hades ($20.40) upset 1-5 favorite Fierceness in the $260,000 Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park, and Nysos ($2.20) romped by 7 1 /2 lengths in the $201,000 Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
