BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Florida-bred Horse of the Year Mystic Lake will add another racetrack to her long list of appearances Thursday when she heads to Delaware Park as the heavy morning line favorite in the $125,000 Dashing Beauty. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. for C2 Racing Stable LLC, BAG Racing Stables LLC and Stefania Farms LLC, Mystic Lake is 3-5 in the program for the six-furlong contest for six fillies and mares, 3-years-old and older.

Also representing the Sunshine State is Stonebase LLC’s Admiral Hopper, who looks for her first stakes victory for trainer Justin Nixon.

In 17 races throughout her career, Mystic Lake has started at 10 different tracks including running at Gulfstream Park, Keeneland Race Course, Churchill Downs and Lone Star Park in four starts this year.

She began 2025 winning the seven-furlong Inside Information presented by MyRacehorse (Grade 2) at Gulfstream on Jan. 25 then was fourth, just three lengths behind winner Positano Sunset in the seven-furlong Resolute Racing Madison (G1) at Keeneland on April 8. She was next ninth over a sloppy seven furlongs in the Derby City Distaff present by Kendall-Jackson (G1) at Churchill Downs on May 3 but returned strong to win the $100,000 Memorial Day Sprint going six furlongs in a driving rainstorm at Lone Star Park on May 26.

 

Seldom a finisher out of the top three, multiple graded stakes-winner Mystic Lake has a career record of eight wins, three seconds and a third in 17 starts with earnings of $1,122,542. She is by Mo Town out of Salty Soul, by Itsmyluckyday and was bred in Florida by Peggy Costanzo.

Jorge Ruiz has the mount for the first time on Mystic Lake and they will break from post five.

Admiral Hopper looks to break through after three starts this year since moving to Nixon’s barn, all in stakes.

Her best effort during that span was a third behind Disco Ebo in the $99,000 Primoneta going six furlongs over a muddy six furlongs at Laurel on April 12 then regressed to finish tenth in her last out in the $100,000 The Very One going five furlongs at Pimlico on May 16. She was also seventh, less than five lengths behind Florida-bred Great Venezuela in the $125,000 Lightning City gong five furlongs on the grass at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 22.

Admiral Hopper is by Field Commission out of Flower Class, by Stormy Atlantic and was bred in Florida by Krista Seltzer and Edward Seltzer of Williston, Fla. She has seven wins, two seconds and a third from 16 career starts with earnings of $208,625.

 

Xavier Perez will be aboard Admiral Hopper from post three and they are listed at 12-1 on the morning line.

Rounding out the field are St. Benedicts Prep with jockey Jaime Rodriguez, Safe Trust and rider Denis Araujo, Melissa Iorio will guide M J’s Yoshida and Girls Weekend has Julio Hernandez taking the call.

Return to the July 16 issue of Wire to Wire