BY BROCK SHERIDAN
C2 Racing LLC and Stefania Farms LLC’s Mystic Lake tracked frontrunning Launch until the top of the stretch then drew off in the lane to win the $133,000 Sugar Swirl by three-quarters of a length at Gulfstream Park Saturday. In winning the six-furlong contest against four other fillies and mares, Mystic Lake won for the fifth time this year—all in stakes—in nine starts while taking down a $6,000 Florida-bred bonus presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Mystic Lake and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. started best of all from the outside post five before Launch took over from post three in the first furlong. Launch had a length on Mystic Lake through a quarter-mile in :22.40 and held off the 3-5 favorite as she began closing in around the far turn. Mystic Lake had a head in front of Launch after a half-mile in :46.38 then began to extend her lead in the stretch under a steady drive from Ortiz. Spirit Wind crossed under the wire a length in front of Socially Selective, who made a late run from fourth to get second. Launch held on for third, three-and-three-quarters lengths farther back. Intrepid Daydream and Florida-bred R Harper Rose completed the order of finish.
Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Mystic Lake completed the distance in 1:11.20 and paid $3.20 to win.
Coming into the Sugar Swirl off a three-month layoff, Mystic Lake was last seen finishing fourth to Horse of the Year candidate Thorpedo Anna in the Grade 1 Cotillion going a mile-and-a-sixteenth at Parx Racing on Sept. 21.
“[That’s] a relief,” Joseph said. “Hopefully onward and upwards from here.”
Mystic Lake also won the Grade 2 Charles Town Oaks by nearly six lengths going seven furlongs in August and finished second to Emery in the Grade 3 Victory Ride at Aqueduct in July. Earlier this year, Mystic Lake won the $75,000 Gasparilla in January and the $100,000 Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies against fellow Florida-breds in March, both at Tampa Bay Downs. She also won the Grade 3 Miss Preakness by four-and-a-half lengths at Pimlico on May 17.
She now sports a career ledger of six wins in 13 starts with three seconds and a third and the $85,500 first-place check increased her career revenues to $901,354. She is by Mo Town out of Salty Soul, by Itsmyluckyday and was bred in Florida by Peggy Costanzo. Mystic Lake is the only foal produced by Salty Soul.
Mystic Lake is the fourth Florida-bred winner of the Sugar Swirl in the last six years and 12th overall in 42 editions. Mystic Lake follows Florida-bred Sugar Swirl winners Spirit Wind last year, Lady’s Island in 2019 and 2020, Pomeroy’s Pistol (2011), U Can Do It (1998), Chaposa Springs (1996), Si Si Sezyou (1993), Spirit of Fighter (1991), Funistrada (1988), One Fine Lady (1987) and Sugar’s Image (1986).
