BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Mystic Lake and Dancing N Dixie will each attempt upset victories Saturday at Gulfstream Park when the two Florida-breds head to the post in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride set for 3-year-old fillies going one mile on the turf.
In addition to the $200,000 purse, there is also a $20,000 Top 3 Florida-bred bonus presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association that will be distributed on a 50%-30%-20% basis.
Mystic Lake will be making her first start on grass in the Herecomesthebride as she looks to repeat her three-quarter-length victory in the $75,000 Gasparilla going seven furlongs on the main track at Tampa Bay Downs on Jan. 13.
Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. for C2 Racing Stable LLC and Stefania Farms LLC, Mystic Lake should adjust to the new surface well with strong races on the synthetic main track at Woodbine including her length-and-a-half conquest against special weight maiden in her second career start in September.
In two subsequent starts, Mystic Lake was strong against stakes fillies when second to A Little Frisky in the $140,000 Glorious Song going seven furlongs in October and third in the Grade 3 Mazarine won by Witwatersrand at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on Nov. 4.
Mystic Lake sports a career record of two wins with a second and a third in five starts with earnings of $117,446 and will be ridden by Edgard Zayas from the inside post one in field of 11.
By Mo Town out of Salty Soul, by Itsmyluckyday, Mystic Lake was bred in Florida by Peggy Costanzo.
She twice sold at Ocala Breeders’ Sales, first during the October Yearling when Tom McCrocklin as agent paid $3,500 for her out of the Summerfield consignment of Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck. McCrocklin then successfully pinhooked her through the 2023 OBS March Sale, selling her for $130,000 to Turf Express Racing Partners.
Mystic Lake would be a mild upset winner as the 5-1 third choice on the morning line for the Herecomesthebride.
Quintessential Racing Florida LLC, Rocky Top Stable (Ventura) and LEMB Stables’ Dancing N Dixie takes her black-type credentials into Saturday’s affair having won the $90,000 Out Dear Peggy by a half-length going a mile-and-yards on the Gulfstream Park synthetic course on Nov. 3.
However, she will have to improve on her last two starts when out of the money in the $300,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes My Dear Girl won by Honey Dijon at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on Dec. 2 and in the $125,000 Ginger Brew at a mile on the turf on Jan. 6. The first two finishers respectively in the Ginger Brew were Ozara (Ire) for trainer Christophe Clement and the Todd Pletcher-trained Life’s an Audible, who are both entered for the Herecomesthebride.
Dancing N Dixie is also an OBS alumna as White Type Stables paid $35,000 to acquire her out of the Blue River Bloodstock consignment at the 2023 June Sale.
Dancing N Dixie is by Neolithic, who stands at Pleasant Acres Stallions, out of Foolhearted Woman, by Uncaptured and was bred in Florida by Freddie Hyatt.
Dancing N Dixie is 15-1 in the program and will be ridden from post four by Paco Lopez.
Ozara is the 2-1 morning line favorite having won her last two starts in the one-mile Ginger Brew by two-and-a-half lengths and the $100,000 Wait A While by a neck going seven-and-a-half furlongs on the Gulfstream turf on Dec. 9.
By Lope de Vega (Ire), Ozara has won three of five starts with one second and earnings of $235,757.
She will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione and they have drawn post three.
Life’s an Audible is the 5-2 second choice after winning the Grade 3 Sweetest Chant going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the grass at Gulfstream in her last race on Feb. 3.
Owner Mike Repole purchased Life’s an Audible in the name of his Repole Stable for $200,000 at the OBS March Sale last year where she was consigned by Britton Peak.
Pletcher has given the riding assignment to Irad Ortiz Jr. and they have post seven.
Others entered for the Herecomesthebride are Crown Imperial with Julien Leparoux in the irons, Macanga will have John Velazquez riding, Show Off with jockey Jose Ortiz, Irish Maxima is set to carry Luis Saez, Joe Bravo takes the mount on Time to Dazzle, Agra with rider Junior Alvarado and Pounce, who will be ridden by Javier Castellano.