Mystik Dan's Half Brother Mystik Bayou Wins at Belmont

BloodHorse Maiden Watch highlights the performances of 2- and 3-year-old maidens (the latter category only through June) with the potential for graded stakes success based on criteria such as a horse that has made no more than five starts and either sold for more than $500,000 at public auction, has siblings that are graded/group winners, or has a dam that is a graded/group winner. BloodHorse research shows maiden winners who meet these criteria are more likely to go on to be graded stakes winners. Wells Bayou, whose stallion career ended early because of fertility problems, has just one foal: the 2-year-old Mystik Bayou. But acting solo, the juvenile is doing his part to keep his sire in the headlines. Making his second career start Oct. 3 at Belmont Park, the Oklahoma-bred colt—a half brother to 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan out of the Colonel John mare Ma'am—romped to a 4 1/4-length victory over favored Tap Our Way. Under Ricardo Santana Jr., Mystik Bayou covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.03. His pedigree resulted in him becoming a BloodHorse Maiden Watch Hot Prospect. Mystik Bayou races for many of the connections associated with Mystik Dan: trainer Kenny McPeek, and Four G Racing, Lance Gasaway, and Daniel Hamby III. Lance Gasaway, Four G Racing, and Hamby campaigned Mystik Dan with Valley View Farm before his retirement to become a stallion at Airdrie Stud. Mystik Bayou was a well-beaten third in his debut behind Saturday's Champagne Stakes (G1) winner U. S. S. Valor Sept. 5 at Saratoga Race Course. The Brad Cox-trained Wells Bayou raced for Clint and Lance Gasaway, Madaket Stables, and Wonder Stables, winning the 2020 Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in his top achievement. The son of Lookin At Lucky retired with a 3-1-4 record in 11 starts and $935,303 in earnings. The Gasaways, wanting to support Wells Bayou at stud, bred him to Ma'am in 2023 after he entered stud at Caines Stallion Station in Oklahoma. Ma'am was reportedly one of just two mares to get in foal, and Mystik Bayou is his only living progeny. Other foals produced by Ma'am include 4-year-old filly Yes Ma'am (Unified), a winner of one of 11 races and $39,560; 3-year-old Ford's Ma'am, an unraced daughter of Knicks Go; and Mystik Brown, an Into Mischief colt born earlier this year. The breeding of Ma'am to Spendthrift Farm stallion Into Mischief, the leading sire for the past seven years, came after Mystik Dan's success on the track.