On Sunday Ken McPeek, trainer of MYSTIK DAN said that a decision might not be made until entries are taken for the 149th running of the Preakness Stakes (G1).

Those entries are due on May 13th. So not until then will we know if the 2024 Derby Winner will journey over to Maryland.

But on Monday, McPeek sounded a bit more optimistic that his colt- MYSTIK DAN could run back in the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown May 18th at Pimlico Race Course.

The Derby Winner cleared one hurdle that might seem small, but is a big deal to McPeek: he ate all his dinner Sunday evening.

24 hours earlier jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. guided the 3-year-old to Victory over SIERRA LEONE in a blanket finish with 3rd-place finisher FOREVER YOUNG in the 150th edition of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

Said McPeek on Monday: “Ate up last night, which is a really good sign. I’m big on that. I always believe the faster they eat, the faster they run. You’ve got to keep them in the feed tub. They need that energy”.

Churchill-based McPeek became the first trainer since Ben Jones in 1952 to Win the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Derby in the same year.

On Friday it was THORPEDO ANNA (with Hernandez aboard), followed by the gutty performance of MYSTIK DAN on Saturday.

McPeek went on to say: “We’ll get him back to the track on Wednesday, probably give him a little jog- a mile, gallop a mile, something simple. I’m encouraged.”

“We probably won’t decide until the morning of entries. But the horse is doing fine and seems to be bright and happy.”