BY BROCK SHERIDAN
C2 Racing Stable LLC and Stefania Farms LLC’s Mystic Lake broke best of all from post two and was never seriously threatened throughout the seven furlongs in an easy three-and-a-half-length victory in the $100,000 Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies for 3-year-old Florida-bred distaffers.
Ridden Edgard Zayas and trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Mystic Lake took a length victory down the backstretch through a :22.62 quarter-mile with Hopesndreams and Miss Sayely giving chase together in second. Hopesndreams attempted to apply pressure from the outside after passing the half-mile pole but Mystic Lake repelled the challenge and began to extend her margin around the bend while finishing the half-mile in :46.09.
Mystic Lake hit the top of the stretch three lengths clear of Girvin’s Princess in second then extended her lead with every stride down the stretch to win in 1.23.37 on the fast track.
Girvin’s Princess was second, another five-and-a-half lengths ahead of Hopesndreams in third. Miss Sayely, Gullfaxi and Evanora completed the order of finish.
“She broke super sharp out of the gate and as soon as she took the lead, she kind of relaxed and from there I knew I was in a good spot,” Zayas said. “She can be a little nervous, but she relaxed so good today and when I asked her, she really kicked on and kept on rolling.”
Mystic Lake returned $3.20 to win as the 3-5 favorite and is now undefeated in two starts at Tampa Bay Downs after winning the $75,000 Gasparilla going seven furlongs there on Jan. 13.
Mystic Lake has now won three of seven career starts with a second and a third with earnings of $183,266.
Bred in Florida by Peggy Constanzo, Mystic Lake is by Mo Town and is the only foal out of Salty Soul, by Itmyluckyday. She is a two-time graduate of Ocala Breeders’ Sales having sold for $3,500 to Tom McCrocklin as agent at the 2022 October Yearling Sale where she was consigned by Summerfield. McCrocklin then pin-hooked her through the OBS March Sale where Turf Express Racing Partners purchased her for $130,000.
Mish Sprints to First Career Stakes Victory at Age 7
Florida-bred Mish – SV Photography
Second three times against stakes horses, including when a neck shy of Sibelius in the $75,000 Pelican at Gulfstream Park last out on Feb. 10, 7-year-old Mish was impressive in winning his first black-type event with a three-and-a-quarter-length victory in the $100,000 NYRABets Sprint. The nearly white gelding defeated five other 4-year-old and older Florida-breds while carrying Samy Camacho going six furlongs.
The field started evenly with Zydeceaux taking a short lead out of the chute with Bouncer to his inside and Mish applying pressure after breaking from the outside post six. Zydeceaux sprinted to a length advantage on Mish down the backstretch with Bouncer third through the first quarter-mile in :22.29 before Mish began his assault as they raced around the turn.
Mish went by Zydeceaux while passing the five-sixteenths marker and was two lengths in front turning for home after a :45.30 half-mile.
Mish drew off in the stretch to finish in 1:09.82 with If Not for Luck getting up for second. Zydeceaux finished another length-and-a-half back in third with Dean Delivers fourth. The Distractor and Bouncer completed the order of finish. Impacto was scratched.
“It’s a huge win. He’s a beautiful horse, and he came in sharp today like he did [in the Pelican]. I was in a perfect spot from the outside, in the clear, and when we turned for home he took off,” Camacho said.
Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. for C2 Racing Stable LLC, Mish paid $4.20 to win.
Mish is by Field Commission out of Wicked Great, by Greatness and was bred in Florida by Joyce Mary Kielty. He has now won nine of 28 lifetime starts with six seconds and three thirds with earnings of $473,682.
Mish is the first stakes winner for Wicked Great, who has two winners from two starters and three foals.
