Tuscan Gold

by Tim Wilkin and Editorial Staff For the first time since before the GI Kentucky Derby, Mystik Dan (Goldencents), had a workout. And trainer Kenny McPeek is getting more and more confident that his colt, winner of the Derby and second in the GI Preakness, will be in the starting gate at Saratoga Race Course for the GI Belmont S. on June 8. Mystik Dan, with exercise rider Danny Ramsey aboard, went five furlongs in 1:01.59 (2/5) on the Oklahoma Training Track Saturday morning. He worked in company with Gould's...

BALTIMORE, MD -- He's baaack. The truth of the matter, trainer Bob Baffert never really went away. The Hall of Famer's omnipresent influence--be it through his runners or the offspring of the stallions he helped mold--can be felt everywhere, regardless of whether the man shows up or not. Conspicuous in his absence at Churchill Downs two weeks ago, Baffert did make his first appearance on the Pimlico backstretch Friday morning, surrounded by a rockstar-caliber entourage, including his kids and his wife Jill, in addition to SF Bloodstock's Tom Ryan and...

The field for the GI Preakness S., ranked in "likeliest winner" order: 1) MYSTIK DAN (c, Goldencents--Ma'am, by Colonel John). O/B-Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby, 4G Racing, LLC, & Valley View Farm LLC (Ky); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. Lifetime Record: GISW, 7-3-1-1, $3,650,050. Last start: WON May 4 GI Kentucky Derby. The Derby champ will go favored in the Preakness on Saturday after the scratch of 'TDN Rising Star' Muth (Good Magic). This son of Goldencents upset the first leg of the Triple Crown at 18-1 odds. In the last three Derbies,...

With the scratch of GISW and 'TDN Rising Star' Muth (Good Magic) from Saturday's GI Preakness S. due to a temperature, Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing, Daniel Hamby III, and Valley View Farm LLC's Mystik Dan (Goldencents) is expected to be the favorite. The GI Kentucky Derby winner galloped 1 3/16 miles on a sloppy, sealed surface Wednesday morning under retired jockey Robby Albarado at Pimlico after the renovation break. "I'm doing a rain dance all this week," said Albarado. "I'm not saying he has to take a racetrack with...

In the few days after Mystik Dan (Goldencents) pulled an 18-1 upset in the GI Kentucky Derby, there was the real possibility that none of the 20 horses that competed in the first leg of the Triple Crown would press on to Saturday's GI Preakness S. By Sunday afternoon, any such concerns had abated--the Derby winner had been confirmed by trainer Ken McPeek and Derby fourth Catching Freedom (Constitution) was also given the green light by Brad Cox, joining a field that had already included two each from Hall of...

The field for Saturday's GIII Peter Pan S. at Aqueduct has been reduced from eight to six, with the connections of both 'TDN Rising Star' Tuscan Gold (Medaglia d'Oro) and Lonesome Boy (Nationhood) opting for other age-restricted spots. Daily Racing Form's David Grening was first to report the news. William Lawrence, Walmac Farm and Stonestreet Stables' Tuscan Gold is being rerouted for next Saturday's GI Preakness S., trainer Chad Brown confirmed to the Form. The $600,000 Keeneland September yearling was fourth to stablemate and recent GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Sierra...

GII Risen Star S. runner up Track Phantom (Quality Road) headlines the field for Saturday's GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds. The race draw also named the GIII Lecomte S. winner, who will break widest of the field in gate 12, as the 3-1 morning-line favorite. The field listed with their morning-line odds from the rail out include: Triple Espresso (Omaha Beach) (20-1), 'TDN Rising Star' Hall of Fame (Gun Runner) (8-1), Antiquarian (Preservationist) (12-1), 'TDN Rising Star' Agate Road (Quality Road) (8-1), Catching Freedom (Constitution) (4-1), Awesome Ruta...