First Filly to Win the Tremont Since Florida-bred Rosie O’Greta in 1995

BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Arindel homebred Mythical became the first filly since Florida-bred Rosie O’Greta in 1995 to win the Tremont (Listed) at Saratoga Race Course with a resounding victory against her male counterparts in the $145,000 contest on Thursday. Ridden by Emisael Jaramillo for trainer Jorge Degaldo, Mythical remained undefeated in two starts with her three-and-a-half-length thumping of her four 2-year-old rivals in the five-and-a-half-furlong contest.

Supplemented into the Tremont rather than racing against the fillies later in the day in the Astoria, Mythical proved the decision to be correct–although she ran more than two seconds faster than Astoria-winner Sassy C W.

“It was actually an owner’s decision,” Delgado said. “Entry day, they were looking at what was a better spot [versus facing fillies in the Astoria]. They figured that this filly has tons of speed, there was a little more speed in the filly race. We wouldn’t run away from anybody, but we wanted to find the easier spot for the way she runs and to develop that speed.”

Mythical burst from post three and was promptly clear of Mercilesanihilator in second to her outside with Blinging It Back third. She was a length-and-a-half in front of Mercilesanihilator through the first two furlongs in :22.20 and the half mile in :44.97 before pulling away in the stretch to finish in 1:03.57. It was the second fastest time in the Tremont (Gold Sweep finished in 1:03.47 in 2023) since Readys Image stopped the clock in 1:02.86 in 2007. Even-money favorite Blinging It Back was second, seven-and-three-quarters lengths ahead of Romeo in third. Baytown Dreamer and Mercilesanihilator finished in that order.

“She does that in the morning which is scary,” Delgado said. “She does really well every breeze. She just wants to run. She is born to be a runner. Once she hears the bell, she wants to go.”

Mythical paid $5.70 to win as the 9-5 second choice.

 

 

“This was the plan from the very beginning,” Jaramillo said. “The idea was to take the lead and go all the way. These horses are just learning to run, so the horse that takes the lead usually is the one that gets the win.”

The bay filly broke her maiden in style on April 17, winning the first race of the year for 2-year-olds at Gulfstream Park, again against colts and gelding, by eight-and-a-half lengths.

Mythical is the first Florida-bred winner of the Tremont since He Hate Me in 2017. In addition to Rosie O’Greta, other Florida-bred winners of the Tremont include Mr. Sea Sanders (1988), Sovereign Don (1985), Foolish Pleasure (1984), Linda’s Chief (1972), Tamtent (1970) and Very High (1969).

Mythical is by St. Patrick’s Day, a full brother to American Pharoah who stood in Florida at Journeyman Stud. He retired in January to Jane Lyons’ Summer Wind Farm in Georgetown, Ky., where he was raised.

Mythical is out of Lailoni, a winning daughter of Arindel’s Brethren. Lailoni has a yearling colt, Boston Bird, by Noble Bird. Arindel consigned Lailoni to the 2024 Ocala Breeders’ Sale Winter Mixed Sale where she sold to O. V. Moss for $1,000. A half-sister to graded stakes-placed Florda-bred Amigo, by Hard Spun; Lailoni was bred to Colonelsdarktemper in 2024. Her second dam, Dat You Miz Blue, won the Grade 3 Vagrancy at Belmont Park in 2001.

She is fully eligible for the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes which begins this year with the $100,000 Desert Vixen for fillies and the $100,000 Dr. Fager for colts and gelding, both at six furlongs, on Sept. 6.

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