Mystik Dan, Churchill Downs photo
Churchill Downs Press
Trainer Kenny McPeek announced Friday that Kentucky is the Derby 150 winner Mystical Daan is officially retired, but fans will get one last chance to see the colt under the Twin Spiers on Saturday when he parades into the paddock for the fourth race from approximately 2:05 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (all times Eastern).
Owned by Lance Gasaway, 4G Racing, Daniel Hamby III and Valley View Farm, Mystik Dan will retire to stud at Airdrie Stud in Midway, Kentucky, where he is expected to earn $15,000.
The four-year-old son of Goldencents retires with a record of 16-5-3-1 and earnings of more than $4.8 million. In addition to his victory in the Kentucky Derby 150, Mystik Dan captured this year’s Lukas Classic (GII) and Blame Stakes (GIII), as well as last year’s Southwest Stakes (GIII) at Oaklawn Park.
CLASSIC VETERAN WOLFIE’S DYNAGHOST MAKES FIRST START WITH LYNCH IN RIVER CITY
Woodslane Farm’s 12-time winner Wolfie’s Dynaghost will make his first start with trainer Brian Lynch on Saturday when he faces a solid field of stylish turf specialists competing in the $300,000 River City (Grade III) at Churchill Downs.
Most recently under the tutelage of Jonathan Thomas, Wolfie’s Dynaghost brings a versatile resume to River City, including victories in the 2023 Autumn Stakes (GII) at Woodbine, along with the Kentucky Cup Classic (Listed) and Prairie Bayou at Turfway Park.
“He came to us in good order,” Lynch said. “Jonathan has clearly kept him in top form so we are pleased to be able to run him for the first time under our care. Hopefully we can do as good a job as Jonathan has done with him. As we are both training for the same owners they asked if I would like to take him down south. This race came here and he is training like he is at the top of his game. The water is a bit deeper than he has been running in but he is a lovely, classy old horse and we are looking forward to seeing what he can do.”
Wolfie’s Dynaghost took post No. 5 in the 1 1/8 mile turf race under jockey Luis Saez.
“Looking at the race, he is definitely a speed horse and has shown he can win in the lead,” Lynch continued. “There’s a bit of speed there, but we won’t take away his game. If he breaks well, we’ll let Luis put him where he feels comfortable and see how it works out.”
The field for the River City from the rail (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):
Mount Rundle (Alex Achard, Michelle Nihei, 30-1)
Epic ride (Luan Machado, John Ennis, 8-1)
Four hundred (Julien Leparoux, Fausto Gutierrez, 20-1)
Encino (irad Ortiz Jr., Brad Cox, 5-1)
Wolfie’s Dynaghost (Saez, Lynch, 10-1)
On the hunt for the Crown (Tyler Gaffalione, Mike Maker, 7-2)
Trader (Joe Ramos, Brian Knippenberg, 10-1)
Corruption (Jose Ortiz, Mark Casse, 5-1)
Lagynos (Frankie Dettori, Steve Asmussen, 9-2)
English Channel (Jareth Loveberry, Wayne Catalano, 30-1)
Tapit shoes (Mario Gutierrez, Ed Moger Jr., 20-1)
Take candy (Axel Concepcion, Cherie DeVaux, 8-1)
River City on Saturday will be the final with a post time of 5:55 PM (all times Eastern). One race earlier, fillies and mares will compete in the $300,000 Dream Supreme (Listed).
Epic Ride was scheduled to take place Friday at Churchill Downs in a grass field event and will bypass River City on Saturday. In that same benefits race, Quatrocento was scratched Friday in favor of River City.
Jockey agent Ron Anderson reported to Bill Finley of Thoroughbred Daily News that Frankie Dettori will not be aboard Lagynos during Saturday’s race. Dettori announced his retirement from North American equestrian sports after last week’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Dettori stated that he will race in South America in early 2026 and then join AMO Racing as a global brand ambassador.
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