BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Mystic Lake will try to match her count of five stakes victories achieved during her FTBOA Horse of the Year campaign in 2024 when trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. sends her postward for the $150,000 Liberty Bell going six-and-a-half furlongs at Parx Racing Saturday. Also entered in the Grade 3 Princess Rooney at Gulfstream Park Saturday, should Mystic Lake go in the Liberty Bell, she will be joined by fellow Florida-bred All Class in the 11-horse field of fillies and mares, 3-years-old and older.
A winner of the Grade 2 Inside Information at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 25 to start the year, Mystic Lake enters the Liberty Bell having won her last three—all in gate to wire fashion in stakes.
To begin her streak, the 4-year-old daughter of Mo Town took the $100,000 Memorial Day Sprint at Lone Star Park by two lengths on May 26 then cruised to a five-and-three-quarters-lengths victory in the $113,000 Dashing Beauty at Delaware Park on July 17, both at six furlongs. In her last race, Mystic Lake dominated the $250,000 Misty Bennett Pink Ribbon at Charles Town on Aug. 22, galloping under the wire to win by three lengths after jockey Tyler Gaffalione allowed her gear down in the final furlong.
Mystic Lake has an impressive record of 10 wins in 19 starts with three seconds and a third while earning $1,360,042 for owners C2 Racing Stable LLC and Stefania Farms LLC. She is the only foal out of the Itsmyluckyday mare Salty Soul and was bred in Florida by Peggy Costanzo.
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.
Gaffalione will get the return mount Saturday from post six and they are the morning line favorites at 2-1.
Trainer and owner Linda Rice enters All Class after the 5-year-old mare most recently finished second to Florida-bred R Disaster in an upper level, $100,000 optional claiming over a sloppy six furlongs at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 20. That was her second race at Saratoga after a dominant, five-and-three-quarters-length victory in a second condition, $75,000 optional claiming going six-and-a-half furlongs on July 23.
Claimed by Rice for $62,500 in October out of a winning effort at Keeneland, All Class has since won two of seven starts with two seconds and a third, earning $201,101. Her career ledger reflects five wins, four seconds and a third in seven starts with earnings of $270,761.
All Class is by Kantharos out of Commentary, by The Factor and was bred in Florida by George and Karen Russell of Reddick, Fla., in the name of their Rustlewood Farm Inc. She was a $7,000 purchase by Span Investments out of the Summerfield consignment at the 2021 OBS October Yearling Sale.
All Class is 5-1 on the morning line and has drawn post one. She will be ridden for the second time by Kendrick Carmouche, who rode her previously in the July 23 victory at Saratoga.
Rounding out the field for the Liberty Bell are Alani and jockey Andy Hernandez, Julio Correa rides Bella Queen, Nature’s Candy will have Abner Adorno aboard, Beach Daze will carry Adam Bowman, no rider has been named on Volleyballprincess, Carmelina has Paco Lopez taking the assignment, Sonny Leon will guide Factorbella, Mychel Sanchez is named on Jeanne Marie and Confirmed Star will have Eliseo Ruiz in the irons.
Return to the September 19 issue of Wire to Wire
