'A surreal feeling:' Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan's owners look to future races

Sharilyn Gasaway, Shreveport native and one of the owners of Mystik Dan, told The Shreveport-Bossier Advocate Sunday afternoon that they haven't decided yet if Mystik Dan will run in the Preakness, because it will be "all about the health of the horse."

Mystik Dan, Lafayette jockey bring Kentucky Derby win home to Louisiana in photo finish

She saw Mystic Dan the morning after the Derby and said he was bright-eyed and seemed very happy and content "or maybe he just wanted more peppermints," she laughed. He will get walked Sunday and then slowly work up to training again.

About having the winning horse of the Kentucky Derby, she said it's "still kind of a surreal feeling, starting to sink in a bit."

Along with her husband, Brent, the other owners are Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby III, and Valley Wire Farm.

The jockey was Brian Joseph Hernandez Jr. from Lafayette and the trainer is Kenneth G. McPeek.

If Mystik Dan runs in the Preakness, she said Hernandez will be the jockey. Hernandez rode Mystik Dan for all of the Kentucky Derby preliminary races.

The Preakness is two weeks away. The last time Mystik Dan ran within two weeks of a big race, he ended up with a lung infection that had to be treated with antibiotics and rest. She said the team doesn't want something like that to happen to Mystik Dan again. 

The veterinarians will be evaluating and watching Mystik Dan carefully now, especially his food intake, which she said can show a lot about how a horse feels. 

Deciding on the Preakness will be a last minute decision, she said. "We want to do right by the horse."

"We're just so blessed with this horse. He's super talented, nothing we did," she said. "You can try and put together the best mix," she said referring to selective breeding, "but God's ultimately in control."

Twelve years ago, Sharilyn and Brent bought their first horse which he named after her, "Sharilyn Jean." That horse broke its maiden at a $10,000 claiming race. The race was at Churchill Downs, so to them a very big deal.

Now, they have another very special Churchill Downs race to remember.