All-Arkansas group revels with Mystik Dan in the local Derby

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Back in February 2016, a Colonel John filly named Ma’am won her maiden at Oaklawn Park.

Fast forward to February 2024 and her first foal, Mystik Dan, was a dominant winner of the track’s Grade 3, $800,000 Southwest Stakes.

The performance has made Mystik Dan one of the top choices for the Grade 1, $1.5 million Arkansas Derby on Saturday in what has been a meaningful journey for a group of breeders and owners born and raised in Arkansas.

Mystik Dan races for his breeders, Lance Gasaway, the 4 G Racing operation of Brent and Sharilyn Gasaway, and Daniel Hamby III. Most were part of a partnership that purchased Ma’am from her breeder, Lucy Bassett, ahead of the filly launching her career with trainer Kenny McPeek.

“We bought Ma’am privately. We just liked her,” said Lance Gasaway, 61. “She did real good for us. We got attached to her and decided we wanted to make a broodmare out of her. We got with Kenny and he decided it was a good idea, too, and he picked out Goldencents to breed her to and there came Mystik Dan.”

Mystik Dan, who also is trained by McPeek, will bring the best last-race Beyer Speed Figure, a 101, into the Arkansas Derby. He earned the number after shuttling home by eight lengths in the Southwest, under regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr.

“He’s got a turn of foot like I’ve never seen,” Lance Gasaway said. “So, we’re excited about this horse. We’ll see how it goes Saturday.”

Mystik Dan is named for Hamby’s father, Dan, and his first business venture, selling Mystik Tape. Since the Southwest, Hamby’s brother Scott has bought into the horse as Valley View Farms.

Lance Gasaway, a standout wide receiver enshrined in the Hall of Fame at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, makes his home in Star City, Ark. He bought his first racehorse about 15 years ago, at his home track of Oaklawn.

“We grew up around it,” Gasaway said. “My dad always liked it. We just grew up going to the horse races and finally [with family and Hamby] we started getting involved in it with Mr. Jinks Fires. We bought three Arkansas-bred horses for $15,000. That broke us in, I guess you could say.”

Lance Gasaway would later become a partner in Wells Bayou, who won the Louisiana Derby. Ma’am has since been bred to Wells Bayou.

“She’s in Oklahoma and any day now she’ll by having a baby by Wells Bayou,” Gasaway said Monday. “She’s going back to be bred to Into Mischief.”

Mystik Dan has a pair of half-sisters coming up, one by Unified and the other by Knicks Go. He is one of three horses Gasaway has in training at the track, after losing one via the claiming box last weekend at Oaklawn.

“I’ve been fortunate,” he said. “I had Wells Bayou on the Derby trail and now this. I feel like I’m very fortunate to have that opportunity. Not too many people have that in a lifetime.”

And speaking of people, Mystik Dan will have a large rooting section Saturday.

“When we won the Southwest, we had a crowd,” Gasaway said. “I can assure you Southeast Arkansas will be very well represented. This is kind of a big deal. There’s not a lot of people from around here who have had a horse in the Arkansas Derby. Everybody knows everybody. We kind of all grew up around here. He has a big fan base.”

Gasaway, who is a crop farmer in the town that is about an hour and 45 minutes from Oaklawn, is excited about Mystik Dan.

“We always thought he had potential,” he said. “I think he’s got a little bit left in the tank. We’ll just keep knocking on wood and hope he keeps on winning.”

Skelly to Count Fleet

Skelly has returned to Oaklawn after running second in the Group 3, $1.5 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 24, according to his trainer, Steve Asmussen. Plans call for the top-class runner to defend his title in the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap on April 13.

“Skelly’s here at Oaklawn,” Asmussen said Tuesday. “He’s back training regularly and we think the Count Fleet, we’ll be ready for it.”

Skelly won last year’s Count Fleet during a streak in which he won seven straight races. He is owned by Red Lane Thoroughbreds and has earned $1.1 million.

◗ Booth, who opened his 3-year-old campaign with a dominant first-level allowance win last month at Oaklawn, is headed for Keeneland. Asmussen said the son of Mitole is targeting the $400,000 Lafayette for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs April 5.

◗ Bellamore is on pace to make her next start in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Apple Blossom on April 13, said Asmussen.

COADY PHOTOGRAPHY Mystik Dan was an impressive winner last out in the slop in the Grade 3 Southwest.