BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Having to battle during every step of the seven-furlong Inside Information (Grade 2), Florida-bred Mystic Lake put on a show of tenacity in winning the $215,000 contest against four other fillies and mares, 4-years-old and older at Gulfstream Park Saturday. Mystic Lake cashed in on a $132,000 payday for owners C2 Racing Stables LLC and Stefania Farms LLC that included an $8,000 Florida-bred bonus presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association. She increased her career earnings to $1,033,354 to become the 185th Florida-bred millionaire.

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. sent Mystic Lake out of post three like a shot but they were quickly joined to their outside by 2024 Inside Information-winner Olivia Darling and even-money favorite Emery, winner the Grade 2 Raven Run at Keeneland in her last start.

Those three fillies raced in tandem down the backstretch as Mystic Lake was a head in front of Olivia Darling between horses with Emery a half-length back in the three path through the first two furlongs in an honest :22.94.

Olivia Darling and Emery tried to get by Mystic Lake while passing the three-eighth pole but Ortiz kept her in contention on the rail before Luis Saez on Jody’s Pride found a seem and took a short lead with a quarter-mile to run.

Jody’s Pride had a narrow advantage to the outside Mystic Lake at the top of the stretch then tried to put away her rival in the run for home. But Mystic Lake put her ears back and regained the lead inside the final furlong when Emery began making up ground on the far outside.

Mystic Lake would not surrender and won by neck in a final time of 1:22.59 on the fast track. Emery was second with Jody’s Pride another head back in third as Olivia Darling and Haulin Ice completed the order of finish. Dazzling Move, Miuccia, Florida-bred Nic’s Style and Sterling Silver were scratched.

Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Mystic Lake paid $6.40 to win.

 

“I was a little concerned when the three hooked up and she was inside but Irad [Ortiz Jr.] did a masterful job as always,” Mark Cornett of Naples, Fla., said. Cornett makes up C2 Racing with brother Clint Cornett of Flower Mound, Tex. “He got her leveled off inside the eight-pole so you saw how game she was to the wire.” 

Joseph said he wasn’t sure if she had won until he watched the race replay.

“I only knew we had it won at the wire–and I had to watch the replay to be sure. [Jody’s Pride] kept digging in, [Emery] was coming, but I knew we had horse, and she battled and battled. She showed a different dimension today, she had to battle for the first time, she showed a lot of guts.”

The Inside Information was the third graded stakes victory of her career, adding to her wins in the Grade 2 Charles Town Oaks in August the Grade 3 Miss Preakness at Pimlico in May. She also counts among her 2024 stakes wins the $75,000 Gasparilla and $100,000 Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies at Tampa Bay Downs and the Listed Sugar Swirl at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 21.

The Sugar Swirl was her first start since September when fourth in the Grade 1 Cotillion won by eventual Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna.

“We gave her time off after the Cotillion,” Joseph said. “She had a hard campaign, but we wanted to try the Cotillion, the Grade I, and if she was placed we would have been very happy. She showed a lot of heart to be fourth. Then we gave her a break. We thought about going out to the La Brea [Grade 1 at Santa Anita Dec. 26], but we would have to ship so far, we decided to stay at home, and that helped us today. It was the right decision.”

“We really had confidence going in,” Cornett continued. “She needed [the Sugar Swirl] and we really didn’t tie the screws down for that race. We had this race in mind all along and obviously it worked out nice.”

Mystic Lake is by Mo Town and is the only foal out of Salty Soul, by Itsmyluckyday and was bred in Florida by Peggy Costanzo. She has now won half of her 14 career starts with three seconds and a third.

Mystic Lake is a two-time graduate of Ocala Breeders’ Sales having first sold for $3,500 to Tom McCrocklin as agent at the 2022 October Yearling Sale where she was consigned by Francis and Barbara Vanlangendock’s Summerfield. McCrocklin then consigned her to the 2023 OBS March Sale where Turf Express Racing Partners purchased her for $130,000.

Joseph said Mystic Lake will now be pointed to the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland on April 5.

“She will go to the Madison next,” he said. “She is four-for-four at seven furlongs on the dirt, I think that is her best distance. She continues to get better and better.”

Mystic Lake joins a long list of Florida-bred winners of the Inside Information. Maryquitecontrary (2023), Classic Point (2015) and Musical Romance (2012) won the race under it’s current title while Splendid Blended (2006), U Can Do It (1998), Nannerl (1992), Social Pro (1989), Tappiano (1988), Chic Belle (1984) and Sober Jig (1981) won the race when it ran under the Shirley Jones Handicap moniker.

Return to the January 25 issue of Wire to Wire