Kentucky Derby champion Mystik Dan is aiming for consecutive Triple Crown wins as he faces seven other competitors in the Preakness Stakes on Saturday night.
Should he succeed, he would be the first to claim victory in both the Derby and the Preakness since Justify in 2018. This achievement would pave the way for a unique and historic opportunity next month with the Triple Crown at stake at the Belmont Stakes, which, for the first time, will be held at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York due to renovations at Belmont Park in New York City.
Mystik Dan must outperform main Preakness contenders, including Bob Baffert-trained Imagination, Brad Cox’s Catching Freedom, and Chad Brown’s Tuscan Gold. The race might be further complicated by a wet track, as rain is forecasted. Baffert had planned to enter two horses, but morning line favourite Muth was withdrawn earlier in the week due to a fever.
“Catching Freedom trained exceptionally well leading up to the Derby,” Mystik Dan’s trainer, Kenny McPeek, commented this week. “He’s quite an impressive horse. And Bob wouldn’t bring a horse unless it was a strong competitor, and Chad has also entered a horse that finished third behind Catching Freedom in the Louisiana Derby.
