(Mystik Dan / Photos by Holly M. Smith)

From the Churchill Downs Media Team:

MYSTIK DAN TO PARADE IN PADDOCK SATURDAY AT CHURCHILL DOWNS

 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Friday, Nov. 7, 2025) – Trainer Kenny McPeek announced Friday that Kentucky Derby 150 winner Mystik Dan has officially been retired but fans will have one final chance to see the colt beneath the Twin Spires on Saturday when he parades in the paddock for the fourth race from approximately 2:05–2:30 p.m. (all times Eastern).

Owned by Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing, Daniel Hamby III and Valley View Farm, Mystik Dan will retire to stud at Airdrie Stud in Midway, Ky. where he’s scheduled to stand for $15,000.

The 4-year-old son of Goldencents retires with a record of 16-5-3-1 and earnings of more than $4.8 million. Along with his victory in Kentucky Derby 150, Mystik Dan captured this year’s Lukas Classic (GII) and Blame Stakes (GIII) as well as last year’s Southwest Stakes (GIII) at Oaklawn Park.

CLASSY VETERAN WOLFIE’S DYNAGHOST TO MAKE FIRST START WITH LYNCH IN RIVER CITY – Woodslane Farm’s 12-time winner Wolfie’s Dynaghost is set to make his first start with trainer Brian Lynch on Saturday when he faces a solid field of classy turf specialists entered in the $300,000 River City (Grade III) at Churchill Downs.

          Most recently in the care of Jonathan Thomas, Wolfie’s Dynaghost brings a versatile resumé to the River City, which includes victories in the 2023 Autumn Stakes (GII) at Woodbine along with the Kentucky Cup Classic (Listed) and Prairie Bayou at Turfway Park.

          “He came over to us in great order,” Lynch said. “Jonathan’s obviously kept him in top form, so we’re excited to run him for the first time under our care. Hopefully we can do as good a job as Jonathan’s done with him. Since we both train for the same owners, they asked if I’d take him to go back south. This race came up here and he’s been training like he’s on top of his game. The water’s a little deeper than what he’s been running in but he’s a lovely, classy old horse and we’re looking forward to see what he can do.”

          Wolfie’s Dynaghost drew post No. 5 in the 1 1/8-mile turf contest under jockey Luis Saez.

          “Looking at the race, he’s definitely a speed horse and he’s shown he can win on the lead,” Lynch continued. “There’s a bit of speed in there but we won’t take his game away from him. If he breaks well, we’ll let Luis put him wherever he’s comfortable and see how it plays out.”

          The field for the River City from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):

  • Mount Rundle (Alex Achard, Michelle Nihei, 30-1)
  • Epic Ride (Luan Machado, John Ennis, 8-1)
  • Quatrocento (Julien Leparoux, Fausto Gutierrez, 20-1)
  • Encino (Irad Ortiz Jr., Brad Cox, 5-1)
  • Wolfie’s Dynaghost (Saez, Lynch, 10-1)
  • Chasing the Crown (Tyler Gaffalione, Mike Maker, 7-2)
  • Mercante (Joe Ramos, Brian Knippenberg, 10-1)
  • Corruption (Jose Ortiz, Mark Casse, 5-1)
  • Lagynos (Frankie Dettori, Steve Asmussen, 9-2)
  • English Channel (Jareth Loveberry, Wayne Catalano, 30-1)
  • Tapit Shoes (Mario Gutierrez, Ed Moger Jr., 20-1)
  • Taking Candy (Axel Concepcion, Cherie DeVaux, 8-1)

Saturday’s River City will go as the finale with a post time of 5:55 p.m. (all times Eastern). One race earlier, fillies and mares will be featured in the $300,000 Dream Supreme (Listed).

Epic Ride was scheduled to run Friday at Churchill Downs in a turf allowance contest and will bypass Saturday’s River City. In that same allowance race, Quatrocento was scratched Friday in favor of the River City.

Jockey agent Ron Anderson reported to Thoroughbred Daily News’ Bill Finley that Frankie Dettoriwill not be aboard Lagynos in Saturday’s race. Dettori announced his retirement from North American riding following last week’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Dettori stated he’ll ride in South America in early 2026 then join AMO Racing as a global brand ambassador.

BAUER HOPING HALINA’S FORTE CAN BOUNCE BACK TO FORM IN SATURDAY’S DREAM SUPREME – Rigney Racing’s Halina’s Forte, who earned her first graded stakes victory three starts ago in the Honorable Miss (GII) at Saratoga, has trainer Phil Bauer hoping she can recapture that same form in Saturday’s $300,000 Dream Supreme (Listed) at Churchill Downs.

“A lot of things worked out well for us in the Honorable Miss, but I think she’s talented enough to repeat that performance Saturday,” Bauer said. “I think she’s well drawn in post 10 where Irad (Ortiz Jr.) can sort of play the break and be on the lead or just off of it.”

A 4-year-old daughter of Mitole, Halina’s Forte recorded back-to-back disappointing efforts following the Honorable Miss when she finished fifth in the Ballerina (GI) at Saratoga and seventh in the Thoroughbred Club of America (GII) at Keeneland.

Saturday’s Dream Supreme will feature a rematch from the Honorable Miss between Halina’s Forte and Averill Racing, Two Eight Racing and ATM Racing’s R Disaster. After finishing runner-up as the 5-2 second choice in the Honorable Miss, R Disaster returned to win a conditioned allowance at Saratoga and the Gallant Bloom (GII) during the Belmont at Aqueduct meet. She will break from post 7 in the Dream Supreme under Jose Ortiz.

The lineup for the Dream Supreme Stakes from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):

  • Sudden Switch (Axel Concepcion, Riley Mott, 12-1)
  • Taliesin (Frankie Pennington, Jacinto Solis, 10-1)
  • Jersey Pearl (Francisco Arrieta, Darrin Miller, 10-1)
  • Hillertio (Tyler Gaffalione, David Jacobson, 4-1)
  • Top (Fernando De La Cruz, Michelle Elliott, 20-1)
  • Tapit Quick (Cristian Torres, Dallas Stewart, 15-1)
  • R Disaster (Jose Ortiz, Joseph, 9-5)
  • Marmalade Skye (Luan Machado, David Jacobson, 15-1)
  • Mink’s Palace (Luis Saez, Eddie Kenneally, 8-1)
  • Halina’s Forte (Irad Ortiz Jr., Bauer, 7-2)

Run at six furlongs on the main track, the Dream Supreme is part of a stakes doubleheader Saturday along with the $300,000 River City (GIII). The Dream Supreme will go to post as Race 10 at 5:25 p.m. (all times Eastern) while the River City will as the finale on the 11-race card at 5:55 p.m. First post is 1 p.m.

DERBY CITY 6 JACKPOT GROWS TO $198,589 AFTER NO WINNING TICKETS THURDAY– No winning combination had all six winners during Thursday’s Derby City 6 Jackpot sequence and the jackpot pool has risen to $198,589 for Friday’s card.

          The Derby City 6 Jackpot, which challenges bettors to have the only winning combination to take down the jackpot, has a 20-cent denomination with a low 15 percent takeout. If there are multiple winning combinations, 90 percent of the daily pool will be paid out with the remaining 10 percent going to the carryover.

          Friday’s sequence: (with scratches as of 10:30 a.m. ET)

  • Race 4 (2:27 p.m.): OC 175000b, 3&up, 1 M (T) (six runners)
  • Race 5 (2:57 p.m.): Mdn 92k, 3&up, 7 F (nine runners)
  • Race 6 (3:26 p.m.): Mdn 120k, 2yo, 6 F (six runners)
  • Race 7 (3:55 p.m.): Alw 127000n1x, f&m, 1 M (T) (nine runners)
  • Race 8 (4:25 p.m.): Mdn 120k, 2yo, 1 1/16 M, (11 runners)
  • Race 9 (4:55 p.m.): Alw 127000n1x, 3&up, 5 ½ F (T) (nine runners)

DOWN THE STRETCH – Churchill Downs all-time winningest horse Bango has been retired, according to trainer Greg Foley. A winner of 12 starts beneath the historic Twin Spires, Bango retires with an overall record of 42-15-4-5 while earning $1.6 million for his owner/breeder Tamaroak Partners. The 8-year-old finished last of seven Thursday in his first start since May 1. … “Inside Churchill Downs” will return Friday at 6 p.m. on ESPN Louisville and feature a recap of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships and a preview of Saturday’s card at Churchill Downs. Listeners in the Louisville area can tune into ESPN 680/105.7 or worldwide at www.espnlouisville.com.