BY BROCK SHERIDAN
A trio of Florida-bred fillies led by C2 Racing Stable LLC and Stefania Farms LLC’s Mystic Lake will head to the post in the Grade 3 Miss Preakness Friday at Pimlico Race Course. Case Chambers’ Let Them Watch and Jacks or Better Farm homebred Belle’s Blue Belle will also represent the Sunshine State among the dozen 3-year-year-old fillies scheduled to go six furlongs.
A two-time stakes-winner at Tampa Bay Downs including a three-and-a-half-length victory in the Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies on Florida Cup day on March 24, Mystic Lake is 6-1 on the morning line. In one race since, the Saffie Joseph-trained daughter of Mo Town was second to fellow Florida-bred Sabatini in the $93,818 Star Shoot going six furlongs over Woodbine’s all-weather main track on April 27.
Mystic Lake has won three of eight career starts with two seconds and a third while earning $201,554. Bred by Peggy Costanzo, she is out of Salty Soul, by Itsmyluckyday and was a $130,000 purchase by Turf Express Racing Partners at the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale where she was consigned by Tom McCrocklin. McCrocklin purchased her for $3,500 out the Summerfield consignment at the 2022 OBS October Yearling Sale.
Mystic Lake has drawn post one and Flavien Prat will ride the dark bay or brown filly for the first time.
Let Them Watch won the $50,000 Sandpiper going six furlongs at Tampa Bay Downs in December for trainer Mike Maker then finished fourth in the $100,000 Glitter Woman won by Into Champagne going the same distance on a sloppy track at Gulfstream on Jan. 7.
She was fifth behind winner Twirling Queen in the $106,000 Melody of Colors sprinting five furlongs over the Gulfstream Park synthetic most recently on March 24.
Let Them Watch is by Maximus Mischief out of My Rolex, by Proud Accolade and has won half of her six career starts with earnings of $136,935.
She too is a two-time graduate of OBS. Chambers paid $55,000 to acquire her out of last year’s OBS Spring Sale where she was consigned by Randy Miles. She did not meet her reserve as a yearling at the OBS October Sale where she was consigned by Summerfield.
Let Them Watch will be ridden by Johan Rosado from post 11 and is 20-1 in the program.
Belle’s Blue Bell exits two winning efforts including a length-and-a-quarter victory against first level, $75,000 optional claiming fillies going six furlongs at Gulfstream on April 24. She also defeated first level, $50,000 optional claiming Florida-bred fillies sprinting on synthetic at Gulfstream on March 13.
By Girvin out of the multiple stakes-winner Awesome Belle, by Awesome of Course, Belle’s Blue Bell is trained by Carlos David and will be ridden from post 12 by Joe Bravo.
She has three wins and two second in eight starts with earnings of $127,160.
Trainer Brad Cox will saddle Youalmosthadme, winner of the $107,000 Mytlewood at Keeneland on Oct. 27 and the $215,000 Fern Creek at Churchill Downs on Nov. 25. In one start this year, the daughter of Oxbow out of Good Gator, by Good and Tough was third in the Grade 2 Beaumont at Keeneland won by Denim and Pearls.
Youalmosthadme has four wins in seven starts with a second and two thirds and tops all Miss Preakness contenders with earnings of $533,440.
Youalsomosthadme is the 2-1 morning line favorite and Tyler Gaffalione will ride.
Rounding out the field are Value Area, who has no rider named as of press time, Launch and jockey Luis Saez, Lady Moscato with Frankie Dettori taking the riding chores, Miss Harriett will be ridden by Jaime Rodriguez, Carmelina has Mychel Sanchez named to ride, Joel Rosario is named on Closing Act, Cap Classique will have Sheldon Russell in the irons and Jean Alvelo is named on Discreet Ops.
