BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-bred Mystic Lake added another graded stakes at yet another race track to her resume Friday night with a nearly six-length triumph in the Grade 2 Charles Towns Oaks at Charles Town Races. In seven starts this year at six different tracks, the Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained filly has won four stakes, two graded, while earning nearly $700,000.
This year she has won the $75,000 Gasparilla and $100,000 Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies in January and March respectively at Tampa Bay Downs and the Grade 3 Miss Preakness at Pimlico on May 17. She was also second to Emery in the Grade 3 Victory Ride during the Belmont at Big A meet on July 4 and second to fellow Florida-bred Sabatini in the CA$128,000 Star Shoot over the synthetic main track at Woodbine in April.
With Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith aboard for the seven-furlong Charles Town Oaks, Mystic Lake raced a length off longshot Overnight Pow Wow through quarter-mile splits of :23.16 and :46.51. Mystic Lake eased past Overnight Pow Wow while three wide in the second turn then distanced her nine rivals in the stretch to finish in 1:24.18 on the fast track.
My Mane Squeeze was second, a neck faster than Princess Madison in the third. Overnight Pow Wow, Vincey Girl, Sing a Little Song, Haulin Ice, Roswell, Deviletta and Nay V Belle completed the order of finish.
Mystic Lake paid $14 to win with generous odds of 6-1.
The victory improved her career record to five wins in 11 starts with three seconds and a third while banking $758,554 for owners C2 Racing Stable LLC and Stefania Farms LLC.
She is a two-time graduate of Ocala Breeders’ Sales. Agent Tom McCrocklin purchased her for $3,500 out of Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield consignment at the 2022 OBS October Yearling Sale then pinhooked her back through the 2023 OBS March Sale where Turf Express Racing Partners took her for $130,000.
Bred in Florida by Peggy Costanzo, Mystic Lake is by Mo Town and is the only foal out of the unraced Itsmyluckyday mare Salty Soul.
