Mystik Dan co-owner talks tight finish
Brian Hernandez Jr., of Lafayette, rides Mystik Dan, right, to the finish line to win the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday. One of Mystik Dan’s owners is a Louisiana Tech graduate. AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
The 150th Kentucky Derby produced one of the closest finishes in the race’s history on Saturday as Mystik Dan claimed victory by the length of his nose in a three-way photo finish.
And a Louisiana Tech graduate was a part of it all.
Sharilyn Gasaway, a co-owner of Mystik Dan and 1989 graduate of Tech’s business school, still can’t believe her family is now a part of history and will be remembered for one of the tightest victories in the storied race.
“It’s unbelievable. It’s something we never could have imagined,” Gasaway said. “ We’ve received so much support from so many people from our partners and friends in Arkansas and our partners and friends in Louisiana as well. It’s been overwhelming.” Coming into the race as an 18-1 shot, Mystik Dan edged out the win with Brian Hernandez, Jr., a Lafayette native, at jockey, while owners Sharilyn and her husband Brent Gasaway — both alumni of Captain Shreve High School in Shreveport — were among 150,000 spectators riding a wave of emotions as they cheered on the thrilling finish.
Mystik Dan’s other owners include Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby III, and Valley Wire Farm.
Gasaway credited Mystik Dan’s calmness before the race as an indication that good fortune was ahead, along with blazing speed that secured a victory at the Southwest Stakes in Hot Springs, Arkansas prior to the derby.
“It’s amazing how it fell into place,” Gasaway said. “I just keep saying that it must be God the way everything worked out the way it did. And he’s just such a calm horse.
“Walking over in front of 150,000 people yelling at you, and horses spook very easily, and he just walked over to the start gate like it was no big deal and then afterwards with cameras everywhere he didn’t seem bothered at all.”
The next step for Mystik Dan could be the Preakness Stakes on May 18 — the second leg of the Triple Crown.
However, Gasaway said ownership and trainers are still undecided on whether competing in the race will be safe for Mystik Dan.
According to Gasaway, the last time Mystik Dan ran well and then took a twoweek break from live competition, he developed a lung infection.
Gasaway said a decision will be made soon on the horse’s status for the Preakness, but she feels confident he will be ready to compete in the Belmont Stakes on June 8.
“We paid $ 10,000 to breed this horse and he doesn’t owe us one thing right now,” Gasaway said. “We’ll do what’s best for the horse and go from there.”
