Albarado on Mystik Dan for Pegasus World Cup:‘I’m Expecting Him to Win’
At 0h03, on January 23, 2025 • By Gulfstream Park
Retired jockey Robby Albarado knows Mystik Dan very well and expects a big performance from the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner in Saturday’s $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park.
Albarado won 5,222 races – 39 of them Grade 1 – during his 31-year-career. Retired since Dec. 2021, Albarado now works for trainer Kenny McPeek as an exercise rider and climbs aboard Mystik Dan most every morning.
“He’s doing really well and he could win,” Albarado said Wednesday. “I’m not expecting him to just hit the board and give a good showing. I’m expecting him to win.”
Mystik Dan won the Derby by a nose at 18-1, finished second in the Preakness (G1) and was eighth in Belmont Stakes (G1). McPeek gave the son of Goldencents several months off and brought him back for the seven-furlong Malibu (G1) Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Park. After the lengthy van ride from New Orleans to suburban Los Angeles, Mystik Dan ended up last in the field of six.
Albarado said the trip may have contributed to his performance in the Malibu and said he likes the way the colt is coming into the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus World Cup.
“He’s not a big horse. Any little thing he does extra takes something out of him,” Albarado said. “I think he’s trained well since then, moved forward. He’s had two really good works, which shows you he likes the track. This morning was one of the best he’s ever gone. I’m really excited about him.”
Mystik Dan has turned in two bullet works under Albarado, fastest on the day at Gulfstream, and McPeek decided he was ready for his first try against older horses. He covered five furlongs in 59.48 seconds Jan. 11 and was timed in 59.95 for the distance on Saturday.
Albarado has watched Mystik Dan progress since he arrived at McPeek’s barn two years ago. He said the colt has the right attitude to be a success.
“He’s professional about everything,” Albarado said. “He does whatever you want him to do. Faster. Slower. He’s got gears to him. Just a very athletic horse. In football terms he’d probably be a running back. He’s got good quickness and he’s sharp. He can make moves, like you saw in the Derby, how he went through spots like running backs. He’s a good horse. I couldn’t be more happy with him.”
