Brian Hernandez Jr.’s Absence Doesn’t Hinder Mystik Dan From Winning $500,000 Lukas Classic

There’s just something about the Churchill Downs Grounds that seems to bring out the best in Mystik Dan. The 2024 Kentucky Derby winner’s last graded win was in May, when the star colt won the Blame Stakes (Grade 3), coincidentally also held at the CDI. Going into the Lukas Classics Stakes (Grade 2), the 4-year-old was the 3-2 favorite. But even without his regular rider, Brian Hernandez Jr., the Kenny McPeek-trained horse didn’t look one bit out of his element at the Twin Spires on Saturday night.

An X post by FadDual Racing from September 27 to share Mystik Dan’s latest feat. “The 2024 Kentucky Derby winner #5 MYSTIK DAN ($5.14) was unbelievable in the $500,000 Lukas Classic,” the social media update announces with a thunderous boom, as the accompanying video shows how the horse, despite being the fifth runner off the turn, shot up the rail and chased down Steven Asmussen’s Disarm to win the 12th running of the G3 race.

The rail, @ChurchillDowns, and MYSTIK DAN!

The 2024 Kentucky Derby winner #5 MYSTIK DAN ($5.14) was unbelievable in the $500,000 Lukas Classic. @jockeyfarrieta was up for @KennyMcPeek. pic.twitter.com/F38EtdZOYi

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) September 27, 2025

The story is developing

The post Brian Hernandez Jr.’s Absence Doesn’t Hinder Mystik Dan From Winning $500,000 Lukas Classic appeared first on EssentiallySports.