Will Mystik Dan remain a one-hit wonder? Following his breakout and subsequent hiatus in 2024, the 4-year-old colt made his return to the racing circuit in December 2024. His trainer, Kenneth McPeek, and jockey, Brian Hernandez Jr., have high hopes for him. But instead of picking up from where he left off, Mystik Dan has underperformed. He has found himself outside the podium positions in the 4 races he’s entered, with the Pegasus World Cup proving the latest stumbling block.

Mystik Dan’s recent results might make one wonder why he’s under so much scrutiny—perhaps this is simply his ceiling. Well, the reason behind the high expectations is the racehorse’s dramatic finish at the 150th Kentucky Derby. By a nose breath, Mystik Dan edged out his two competitors to seal the win in the closest finish the Derby had seen in over half a century.

Mystik Dan’s stylish win made him a contender to look out for. But he has been unable to recapture the form that won him the Kentucky Derby. His 3 outings at the Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, and Malibu Stakes all yielded subpar results. McPeek believed it was the extensive travel that was throwing his racehorse off his game and that these results were just a blip. Thus, the Pegasus World Cup offered a chance at redemption.

Despite McPeek’s belief in Mystik Dan’s ability to reverse his bad fortune, analysts thought otherwise. As per CBS Sports’ predictions, Mystik Dan was poised to finish the race in 9th place. MSN also predicted the same outcome for him, with his odds of winning being 8-1. The predictions didn’t bode well for him, but Mystik Dan could not beat the odds and come out on top.

Another disappointment for the once-winner

The Pegasus World Cup proved to be yet another false dawn. True to predictions, Mystik Dan ended the race in the ninth position, far from where his trainer and jockey wanted him to be. Instead, White Abarrio dominated the race to win the title, followed by Locked and Skippylongstocking. Mystik Dan had a decent enough start but flagged late on the second turn and was unable to mount a comeback.

After the race, McPeek took to X to reaffirm his support for Mystik Dan. He wrote, “Mystik Dan came back sound and scoped clean. We are so proud of him and we are trying to get him back in form. I’m as confused as anyone on his recent performances. It’s a humbling game. We will take our time and regroup with him doing what’s best for him.”

However, his belief in his horse is not shared by everyone. Journalist Reinier Macatangay was less optimistic about Mystik Dan’s future. In an X post, he wrote, “Mystik Dan threw in another clunker in the Pegasus World Cup. I would like to see him get a confidence builder. Maybe he’s not that good anymore, but losing two G1 races in a row by double-digit lengths is probably hurting his confidence as well.” He further added, “I think Mystik Dan is a bad bet wherever he goes. But given the layoff he returned from, I think it’s too early to come to a conclusion. At least, I want to see one more.”

Although Macatangay remains unconvinced by the steed, he still hesitates to write him off. He is clearly a quality horse, but it is a question of if he can return to the performance levels that put him on the map. Although there has been no official confirmation regarding his next race, horse racing fans could hope to see the equine sensation next at the Saudi Cup in February.