Kentucky Derby Winner Mystik Dan Returns to Winner's Circle in $275,000 Blame Stakes

May 31, 2025

Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan returned to the winner’s circle for the first time since capturing the historic 150th “Run for the Roses” one year ago with an impressive 1 ¼-length score over Antiquarian in Saturday’s sixth running of the $270,000 Blame (Grade III) at Churchill Downs – the highlight of six stakes races that comprised Stephen Foster Preview Day.

Reminiscent of his Kentucky Derby win in 2024, Mystik Dan, under Brian Hernandez Jr., relaxed off the pace along the inside rail, cut the corner at the top of the stretch and powered home to victory – his first in six races since the memorable Derby triumph in a three-horse photo finish with Sierra Leone and Forever Young.

“When Mystik Dan is right, he’s such a fun horse to ride because he makes my job so easy,” Hernandez Jr. said.

Mystik Dan, trained by Kenny McPeek and owned by Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing LLC, Daniel Hamby III and Valley View Farm LLC, ran 1 1/8 miles over a fast track in 1:48.45, which was a stakes record, narrowly besting Highland Falls’ time of 1:48.51 one year ago.

Mystik Dan banked $166,710 for the win and his record now stands at $4,417,570.

Alexander Helios led the field of seven older horses through early fractions of :22.93 and :46.82 as Antiquarian tracked just off his right hip with Hall of Fame behind in third on the outside and Mystik Dan relaxed in fourth along the rail. Antiquarian took over into the final turn after six furlongs in 1:11.14. Leaving the bend, Alexander Helios began to retreat and Mystik Dan circled that rival to find his best stride at the top of the lane. The Derby winner immediately hugged the rail – as he did in Derby 150 – and spurted 1 ½ lengths clear from Antiquarian and held him at bay down the lane.

“Just like in the Derby, today he sits in a nice pocket and let’s you read the race,” Hernandez Jr. said. “When you call on him, you know he’s going to jump forward and that’s what he did today. We got that spot turning for home and he showed why he won the Kentucky Derby in the past. It’s a testament to the horse. He makes these kind of trips easy, I just have to point him in the right direction.”

Mystik Dan, the 3-1 third betting choice after a narrow loss to Saudi Crown in the $200,000 Lake Ouachita Stakes at Oaklawn Park on May 3 in his previous start, returned $8.12, $5.20 and $3.16. Antiquarian, ridden by John Velazuqez at odds of 9-1, paid $9.34 and $5.04. Post Time, the 2-1 favorite under Sheldon Russell, paid $2.94 to show.

Hall of Fame, Banishing, Tennessee Lamb and Alexander Helios completed the order of finish. Best Actor, Katonah and Most Wanted were scratched.

Mystik Dan is a Kentucky-bred son of Goldencents out of the Colonel John mare Ma’am.

“It’s continued to be a team effort,” McPeek said. “I have a great group of people who’s been around this horse. In hindsight, I wish I could take away a couple of those races after the Triple Crown. We got him back to his old self. I’m just so proud of him and the job Brian did with him.”

The race was the highlight of Stephen Foster Preview Day with six takes events as preps for other marquee races on Saturday, June 28, including the $1 million Stephen Foster, a coveted Grade I event over 1 1/8 miles for older horses.

“The Stephen Foster is right here in a month,” McPeek said. “We have another good horse in Gould’s Gold, who set a track record here. So, we have a little bit of a dilemma. Both horses will be nominated and we’ll make a decision on whether we keep them together or separate them. I’m sure Brian will probably stay on ‘Dan’ but we’ll discuss those details as they come.”

The Blame is named after the 2010 Eclipse Award-winning older horse that handed Zenyatta her lone defeat in that year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) at Churchill Downs.

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ROYAL SPA RALLIES TO BEAT GIN GIN IN grade iii, $271,000 SHAWNEE

Royal Spa, owned and bred by Rhonda O’Rourke’s Breffni Farm, displayed a powerful closing punch to outkick Gin Gin inside the final furlong and score a 13-1 upset in Saturday’s sixth running of the $271,000 Shawnee (Grade III) by 1 ¼ lengths at Churchill Downs.

“This win means so much to me because Breffni Farm are some of the best people,” said winning trainer Rodolphe Brisset.

Illinois invader Wild About Hilary, winner of the Pago Hop and Bayakoa (GIII) this winter, led the field of nine fillies and mares through early splits of :23.51, :47.06 and 1:11.21 as Doubledogdare (GIII) winner Gin Gin tracked in second and Royal Spa relaxed in sixth.

Gin Gin put away Wild About Hilary leaving the final turn but Royal Spa rallied wide around the bend and steamed her way into contention with a powerful closing kick. Royal Spa, ridden by Flavien Prat, edged to the front inside the final furlong and drew away for the upset win in 1:42.20 for 1 1/16 miles over a fast track.

“We got a little shuffled back at the start, so I just let her get into the bridle,” Prat said. “Around the turn she sort of found her best stride and when I asked her to finish up down the lane she did.”

Royal Spa returned $28.78, $9.38 and $4.58. Gin Gin, under Jose Ortiz at odds of 5-2, returned $4.64 and $3.12. Alpine Princess, with Florent Geroux up at 6-1, was another 2 ½ lengths back in third and paid $3.72.

Corningstone, Free Like a Girl, 2-1 favorite Where’s My Ring, In Just My Heels, Wild About Hilary and Hoosier Philly completed the order of finish.

Royal Spa is a 5-year-old Violence mare out of the Mineshaft mare Bodacious Babe. She was bred in Kentucky by her owner.

With her victory in Saturday’s Shawnee worth $163,920, Royal Spa improved her record to 18-6-3-2—$728,592.

This marked Royal Spa’s second consecutive stakes win. She won the $100,000 Heavenly Cause at Laurel Park on April 12.

“We knew that probably going seven-eighths or a mile is her best distance but the circumstances really worked out well to try longer today,” Brisset said. “She was a bit further back than we originally planned but it might’ve benefited her for the future. I’m not sure what we will do with her next. It worked out well trying a longer distance today but we also know she runs well going a little shorter.”

The Shawnee Stakes is named after a neighborhood in western Louisville.

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DURANTE UPSETS GRADE III, $275,000 ARISTIDES

Longshot Durante, owned and trained by David Jacobson, took advantage of a torrid early pace set by Skelly and World Record and surged past the latter late to win Saturday’s 37th running of the $275,000 Aristides (Grade III) at Churchill Downs by one length.

Durante, off at odds of 33-1, paid $2 mutuels of $68.44, $15.74 and $5.62 – the largest win payoff in the history of the race.

Skelly, the odds-on 4-5 favorite and expected early leader, broke slow from the gate, and Durante, breaking from post No. 2,  found himself in front in the field of six older horses shortly after the break.

Durante, with Jose Ortiz aboard, opted to back off the quick pace from the rail as Skelly rushed to recover and takeover with World Record, at odds of 8-5, tracking just off his right hip.

“He broke like a rocket but I was able to give him a breather around the turn,” Ortiz said.

Skelly and World Record zipped race-record quarter-mile fractions of :20.93 and :43.61 as Durante kept on in third along the inside. Leaving the turn, World Record put away Skelly at the top of the stretch but Durante tipped out and surged past World Record inside the final sixteenth of a mile to score the upset win.

“In the stretch, he came on again and really finished up well,” Ortiz said. “I think it was a really good field today and could beat one another on any given day. Today, it was our day.”

Durante clocked six furlongs over a “fast” track in 1:09.23 and earned $168,105 for the triumph. He now boasts a record of 38-10-6-5—$821,743.

Runner-up World Record, under Flavien Prat, paid $3.42 and $2.74 to place. There was a dead-heat for third. Giant Mischief, at odds of 4-1 under Irad Ortiz Jr., paid $2.36. Happy Is a Choice, at 11-1 under Rey Gutierrez, returned $2.68. Both finished a neck back of the runner-up.

The order of finish was completed by Here Mi Song and Skelly. Champlin was scratched.

This was Durante’s second stakes win. In 2023, he won the $200,000 Bold Ruler (GIII) at Aqueduct.

Prior to the Aristides, Durante finished third in an allowance/optional claiming event at Churchill Downs on May 16.

Durante is a 6-year-old gelded son of Distorted Humor out of the Pioneerof the Nile mare Seahawk Girl. He was bred in Kentucky by William Humphries & Altair Farms LLC.

The Aristides is a Breeders’ Cup Dirt Dozen Bonus Series race for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint to be held Saturday, Nov. 1 at Del Mar. The nominated winner will receive a credit of $30,000 toward entry fees into the Breeders’ Cup Sprint with the second and third place finishers receiving a $15,000 and $7,500 credit, respectively.

The Aristides is named in honor of the inaugural Kentucky Derby winner of 1875.

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MERCANTE EDGES BRILLIANT BERTIE IN THRILLING GRADE III, $273,500 ARLINGTON

Carl Pollard’s homebred Mercante, runner-up in the $1 million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (Grade I) on Kentucky Derby Day, remained in top form and out-finished 9-5 favorite Brilliant Berti in a thrilling stretch run to win Saturday’s 89th running of the $273,500 Arlington Stakes (Grade III) at Churchill Downs by a neck.

Mercante, ridden by Joe Ramos and trained by Brian Knippenberg, ran 1 1/16 miles on turf in a stakes record 1:40.89, which eclipsed Ottoman Fleet (GB)’s time of 1:41.45 last year.

“To do this here at Churchill, with Mr. Pollard in attendance, and (Bill Landes), my boss for a hundred years, it’s so special,” Knippenberg said.

Mercante earned $168,105 for Saturday’s victory and improved his record to 5-1-3 in 13 starts with earnings of $726,122.

Brilliant Berti, who entered the race a perfect 4-for-4 over the Churchill Downs turf course, found himself on the lead in the field of seven older horses and set comfortable early fractions of :24.43, :48.42 and 1:11.72 as Mercante rated just behind him down the backstretch.

Mercante engaged Brilliant Bertie around the final turn from the outside. The two matched strides down the lane but Mercante out-gamed his rival late for the narrow victory.

“I have so much confidence in him every time he runs,” Ramos said. “He was going really well down the backside and turning for home I had a lot of horse left. He fought really hard to the wire.”

Mercante, off as the 3-1 third betting choice, paid $8.90, $4.30 and $3.16. Brilliant Berti, under Brian Hernandez Jr., returned $3.42 and $2.60. Lagynos was another half-length back in third under Flavien Prat at odds of 6-1 and paid $2.94 to show.

Event Detail, Gigante and Silent Heart completed the running order. Cameo Performance and Herchee were scratched.

This was the second Grade III win of Mercante’s career. In March, he prevailed in the $300,000 Kentucky Cup Classic (GIII) at Turfway Park.

“He does his best running when he’s outside of horses,” Knippenberg said. “After the break, when I saw Joe go to the outside of horses, I had a ton of confidence that he’d run well. I just can’t say enough how special this is.”

Mercante, a 5-year-old gelded son of Gun Runner out of the Honour and Glory mare Caressing, was bred in Kentucky.

“Half the people from Hermitage Farm are here,” Knippenberg said. “It’s just great that everything worked out the way it did. We nominated him to the Wise Dan but we’ll let him tell us what to do next.”

Call Protection was pulled up after a half mile and was vanned to the Equine Medical Center for further evaluation. Upon evaluation, the extent of the injury to his right front leg was severe and resulted in a catastrophic injury, according to Dr. Will Farmer, Churchill Downs Incorporated’s Equine Medical Director.

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FIONN LAST TO FIRST IN GRADE III, $272,250 REGRET

George Messina and Michael Lee’s Fionn launched an impressive last-to-first rally to collar Totally Justified in the final 50 yards to win Saturday’s 56th running of the $272,250 Regret Stakes (Grade III) at Churchill Downs by a half-length.

Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux, Fionn covered 1 1/8 miles on “firm” turf in 1:47.29, which narrowly eclipsed Lady of Venice’s 2006 stakes record of 1:47.31.

Classic Q, the 3-2 favorite in the field of nine 3-year-old fillies, dictated the terms as she clipped off fractions of :22.90, :46.75 and 1:11.08 with Fionn relaxed in last down the backstretch. Classic Q tired at the top of the stretch as Totally Justified took over at the three-sixteenths pole. Fionn was hitting her best stride, carved her way through competition in upper stretch and tipped out to the center to power home for the come-from-behind triumph.

“They were going fast up front so I just let her get into a nice rhythm and do her thing,” Geroux said. “She kept finding more late and really dug in.”

Fionn, the 4-1 second betting choice, paid $10.08, $4.56 and $3.28. Totally Justified, under Luis Saez at 4-1, returned $6.08 and $4.56. Hereforagoodtime, with Irad Ortiz Jr. in the saddle at odds of 5-1, finished another length back in third and paid $4.02.

Aterradora (IRE), Fixin to Bee, Golden Sunshine, Classic Q, Jalila and Mechaya completed the order of finish. Deloraine and Lush Lips (GB) were scratched.

With her victory worth $163,920, Fionn boosted her career earnings to $349,270 from a record of 4-1-1 in six starts. She won the $100,000 Allen Black Cat LaCombe Memorial at Fair Grounds in March and finished third in the $500,000 Appalachian (GII) at Keeneland in April.

“She’s been a really consistent filly and I think she will keep improving off of this,” Cox said.

Fionn is a daughter of Twirling Candy out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Gaelic Gold and was bred in Kentucky by Dixiana Farms LLC.

The Regret honors the 1915 Kentucky Derby-winning filly.

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WORLD BEATER SURGES LATE TO WIN $273,500 AUDUBON

World Beater, owned by Jim and Dana Bernhard’s Pin Oak Stud LLC, collected his first stakes victory when he surged past longshot King of Ashes in the final yards to win Saturday’s sixth running of the $273,500 Audubon Stakes (Listed) for 3-year-olds at Churchill Downs by a neck.

World Beater, ridden by Jaime Torres and trained by Riley Mott, covered 1 1/8 miles over “firm” turf in 1:47.39, which eclipsed the 2020 stakes record of 1:47.99 established by Field Pass.

The $165,315 first prize jumped World Beater’s earnings to $263,914 from a record of 2-1-1 in six starts.

Charlie’s to Blame led the field of eight sophomores through comfortable early splits of :23.42 and :47.71 as Tomasello sat second, King of Ashes tracked in third and World Beater rated in fifth along the rail. Into the final turn, Charlie’s to Blame faded as King of Ashes ranged into the lead over Tomasello. World Beater angled out at the top of the lane and kept coming to surge past King of Ashes inside the final 100 yards for the win.

“He’s a pretty easy horse to ride because he’ll take you to where you need to go,” Torres said. “He was traveling well and he really kicked it into gear down the lane. I’m very thankful for Riley (Mott) and his whole team. I rode him two starts ago at Keeneland on the turf and he ran well that day. He was impressive stretching out more in distance when he broke his maiden last time. I think that definitely helped him.”

World Beater paid $15.40, $8.56 and $5.82 as the 6-1 fifth betting choice. King of Ashes, with Frankie Dettori up at odds of 16-1, returned $16.06 and $8.84. Tomasello was another 2 ¼ lengths back in third under Jose Ortiz at 7-1 and paid $6.06 to show.

Scipio, Early Adopter (GB), Discreet Dancer, Charlie’s to Blame and Mesero rounded out the placings.

Prior to the Audubon, World Beater broke his maiden in his fifth attempt in a 1 1/8-mile grass event at Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Oaks undercard.

World Beater, a son of Oscar Performance out of the Blame mare Dabinett, was bred in Kentucky by Dr. John A. Chandler.

The Audubon is named after a Louisville neighborhood located nearby Churchill Downs.

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ARISTIDES QUOTES

Jose Ortiz (jockey, Durante, winner): “He broke like a rocket but I was able to give him a breather around the turn. In the stretch, he came on again and really finished up well. I think it was a really good field today and could beat one another on any given day. Today, it was our day.”

David Jacobson (trainer, Durante, winner): “He broke so well today and looked like he took Jose (Ortiz) right to the lead. We’ve always had high hopes for him and he ran to those today.”

Flavien Prat (jockey, World Record, runner-up): “I’m proud of how he ran – he tried hard the whole race.”

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ARLINGTON QUOTES

Joe Ramos (jockey, Mercante, winner): “I have so much confidence in him every time he runs. He was going really well down the backside and turning for home I had a lot of horse left. He fought really hard to the wire.”

Brian Knippenberg (trainer, Mercante, winner): “To do this here at Churchill, with Mr. Pollard in attendance, and (Bill Landes), my boss for a hundred years, it’s so special. He does his best running when he’s outside of horses. After the break, when I saw Joe (Ramos) go to the outside of horses, I had a ton of confidence that he’d run well. I just can’t say enough how special this is. Half the people from Hermitage Farm are here. It’s just great that everything worked out the way it did. We nominated him to the Wise Dan but we’ll let him tell us what to do next.”

Brian Hernandez Jr. (jockey, Brilliant Berti, runner-up): “It was a weird trip. No one really wanted the lead out of the gate and we sort of got there because of that. He still ran a good race doing something that he wasn't used to doing.'

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AUDUBON QUOTES

Jaime Torres (jockey, World Beater, winner): “He’s a pretty easy horse to ride because he’ll take you to where you need to go. He was traveling well and he really kicked it into gear down the lane. I’m very thankful for Riley (Mott) and his whole team. I rode him two starts ago at Keeneland on the turf and he ran well that day. He was impressive stretching out more in distance when he broke his maiden last time. I think that definitely helped him.”

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BLAME QUOTES

Brian Hernandez Jr. (jockey, Mystik Dan, winner): “When Mystik Dan is right, he’s such a fun horse to ride because he makes my job so easy. Just like in the Derby, today he sits in a nice pocket and let’s you read the race. When you call on him, you know he’s going to jump forward and that’s what he did today. We got that spot turning for home and he showed why he won the Kentucky Derby in the past. It’s a testament to the horse. He makes these kind of trips easy, I just have to point him in the right direction.”

Kenny McPeek (trainer, Mystik Dan, winner): “It’s continued to be a team effort. I have a great group of people who’s been around this horse. In hindsight, I wish I could take away a couple of those races after the Triple Crown. We got him back to his old self. I’m just so proud of him and the job Brian (Hernandez Jr.) did with him. The Stephen Foster is right here in a month. We have another good horse in Gould’s Gold, who set a track record here. So, we have a little bit of a dilemma. Both horses will be nominated and we’ll make a decision on whether we keep them together or separate them. I’m sure Brian will probably stay on ‘Dan’ but we’ll discuss those details as they come.”

Brittany Russell (trainer, Post Time, third): “With his running style, sometimes he gets in trouble. He ran well but didn’t have the easiest of trips.”

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REGRET QUOTES

Florent Geroux (jockey, Fionn, winner): “They were going fast up front so I just let her get into a nice rhythm and do her thing. She kept finding more late and really dug in.”

Brad Cox (trainer, Fionn, winner): “It was a good trip. She’s been a really consistent filly and I think she will keep improving off of this.”

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SHAWNEE QUOTES

Flavien Prat (jockey, Royal Spa, winner): “We got a little shuffled back at the start, so I just let her get into the bridle. Around the turn she sort of found her best stride and when I asked her to finish up down the lane she did.”

Rodolphe Brisset (trainer, Royal Spa, winner): “This win means so much to me because (owner) Breffni Farm are some of the best people. We knew that probably going seven-eighths or a mile is her best distance but the circumstances really worked out well to try longer today. She was a bit further back than we originally planned but it might’ve benefited her for the future. I’m not sure what we will do with her next. It worked out well trying a longer distance today but we also know she runs well going a little shorter.”

Jose Ortiz (jockey, Gin Gin, runner-up): “She ran a great race. We ended up being second best today but she’s run two really good races in a row.