Kentucky Derby Winner Mystik Dan Among 94 Nominees For 6 Graded Stakes On Opening Day At Santa Anita Thursday, Dec. 26
At 0h02, on December 16, 2024 • By Santa Anita
Reigning Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Full Serrano and Breeders’ Cup runner-ups Johannes and Bentornato are among an array of Thoroughbred stars nominated to run in six graded stakes on Thursday, Dec. 26, opening day of Santa Anita Park’s 90th year of world-class Thoroughbred racing.
Mystik Dan, who won the 150th Kentucky Derby in May for trainer Ken McPeek, is among 14 3-year-olds nominated to run in the GI Malibu Stakes going seven furlongs on opening day. Based this winter at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, Mystik Dan last weekend had a five-furlong gate work in preparation for an expected start in the Malibu. The day after Mystik Dan’s work, McPeek confirmed the Kentucky Derby winner remained pointed to the Malibu.
Mystik Dan hasn’t started since finishing eighth in the Belmont Stakes June 8. He would be the first reigning Kentucky Derby winner since California Chrome in 2015 to run at the subsequent Santa Anita winter or spring meets. Mystik Dan would also be the first reigning Kentucky Derby winner to contest the Malibu since Silver Charm in 1997.
In all, 94 horses were nominated for the six graded stakes on opening day.
