Mystik Dan Has 'Solid' Breeze Ahead of Pegasus

2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan continued his preparation for the $3.015 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) by breezing five furlongs in :59.48 at Gulfstream Park Jan. 11. "We wanted a nice, solid breeze out of him so he got something out of it," said trainer Kenny McPeek. "It was a good next step. We'll go over him this afternoon and this morning to make sure he's OK. One more work next week, either Friday or Saturday, I haven't decided, and then we'll make a decision whether we're going to go or not." Second in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and eighth in the Belmont Stakes (G1), Mystik Dan was off for six months before finishing sixth Dec. 26 in the Malibu Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park. McPeek said the 4-year-old son of Goldencents seems to like his surroundings and the track. "One of the questions coming out of the Belmont... (jockey) Brian Hernandez felt like he didn't like the sort of deepness of the Saratoga track last summer, and I think this track is more of a skip-along type of racetrack he'll get over well," he said. "But he'll have to do it in the afternoon." McPeek said he "just wants to make sure he has what I call a happy week and stays in the feed tub and shows good energy. He's done well. Lovely horse. Really grand to be around." Entries for Pegasus World Cup Day will be taken Jan. 26. The post-position draw, along with the odds, will take place in the Carousel Club at Gulfstream Park. Power Squeeze, Lone Filly in Field, Works Lea Farms' Power Squeeze, the only filly expected to run in the Pegasus World Cup, was also on the Gulfstream track Saturday morning, working five furlongs in 1:01.73. Winner of the Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course over the summer, Power Squeeze comes into the Pegasus off a second-place finish at Gulfstream Dec. 26 in the Rampart Stakes. The 4-year-old daughter of Union Rags has two wins and a second over the Gulfstream track. "She went very nice," said trainer Jorge Delgado. "She breezed really strong and the gallop out was what we expected. She did it really easy. She goes (the Pegasus 1 1/8 mile) distance really well. The last race there was a slow pace in the race and the small field didn't help her, but it sets her up for this race. "She loves the distance, she loves the surface, she knows how to win. If there's a good pace she'll run a good race." Other possible Pegasus runners working Saturday at Payson Park Training Center included grade 1 winner Saudi Crown, an invitee to the Pegasus World Cup, who worked four furlongs in :50, and Fluffy Socks, a favorite in the Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational Stakes (G2T), who worked a half-mile in :49 2/5.