BY BROCK SHERIDAN
C2 Racing Stable and Stefania Farms’ Mystic Lake improved her current winning streak in stakes to four with a wire-to-wire victory in the $150,000 Liberty Bell against six other fillies and mares at Parx Racing Saturday. In winning the six-and-a-half-furlong Liberty Bell, Mystic Lake also won her fifth stakes of the year, equaling the number of added-money victories she had during her 2024 Florida-bred Horse of the Year campaign.
Jockey Tyler Gaffalione had Mystic Lake on the lead quickly from post five as she put two lengths on 4-5 favorite Carmelina for the run down the backstretch. Carmelina and Volleyballprincess tried to approach Mystic Lake early in the far turn after a :21.88 quarter mile but Mystic Lake shook free again after finishing the half mile in :44.08. Volleyballprincess tried to reach Mystic Lake again in the stretch as Carmelina dropped back but Mystic Lake kept clear to win by a length-and-a-quarter in 1:15.87 on the fast track. Volleyballprincess held second by a three-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of late-running Bella Queen in third. They were followed in order by Confirmed Star, Factorbella, Carmelina and Beach Daze. Alani, Florida-bred All Class, Jeanne Marie and Nature’s Candy were scratched.
Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. Mystic Lake paid $4.40 to win.
A winner of the Grade 2 Inside Information at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 25 to start the year, Mystic Lake begin her current streak by winning the $100,000 Memorial Day Sprint at Lone Star Park by two lengths on May 26. She then cruised to a five-and-three-quarters-lengths victory in the $113,000 Dashing Beauty at Delaware Park on July 17 before dominating the $250,000 Misty Bennett Pink Ribbon at Charles Town on Aug. 22, galloping under the wire to win by three lengths after Gaffalione allowed her gear down in the final furlong.
She now has 11 wins in 20 starts with three seconds and a third with earnings of $1,447,642.
Bred in Florida by Peggy Costanzo, Mystic Lake is by Mo Town and is the only foal out of the Itsmyluckyday mare Salty Soul.
A two-time graduate of Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company, she was a $130,000 purchase by Turf Express Racing Partners out of the Tom McCrocklin consignment at the 2023 Spring Sale. McCrocklin selected her out of the consignment of Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield at the 2022 OBS October Yearling Sale, paying $3,500.
Return to the September 20 issue of Wire to Wire
