BY TAMMY A GANTT
Mystic Lake led nearly every point of call gate-to-wire pulling away impressively in the stretch to win by seven and a half lengths in the $125,000 Minaret Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 7. By Mo Town out of Salty Soul by Itsmyluckyday, the 2024 Florida Horse of the Year didn’t look back in the six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares four years and up.
From post 1, the Saffie Joseph Jr trainee led the way along the inside down the backstretch after breaking first from the gate. Sandy’s Garden pressed her at the half, putting her nose in front for a moment, before Mystic Lake regained her position, turned for home, and drew off down the lane.
“She broke very sharp and I felt like I was traveling well throughout, and she sure made a good run,” said jockey Flavien Prat, who gave Mystic Lake a little breather on the turn for home and was rewarded with an explosive stretch kick. “I felt like I had horse underneath me, but the first quarter-mile was quite quick and I just wanted to give her a chance.”
That apparently was all Mystic Lake wanted, too.
“I thought she was more fit than last time (the Sugar Swirl),” Joseph said. “She is 3-for-3 now at Tampa and has been a model of consistency. You’re always concerned if she is going to kick in, but when she kicks in you feel pretty good.”
Summer’s Comin improved throughout the race breaking fourth and moved up to second in deep stretch, but was no match for the winner. Florida-bred Admiral Hopper held a stalking position throughout the race, but tired down the lane to hang on to the show spot.
Long Gone Sally ran mid-pack the duration of the race and tired in the stretch finishing fourth. Ms. Bucchero stumbled from the gate and was never a factor in the race. Sandy’s Garden, who tired late after her early pace duel with Mystic Lake, completed the order of finish.
Mystic Lake paid $3.40 to win.
Now 12 for 22 lifetime, the first-place money of $77,500 raised her career bankroll to $1,537,517.
Mystic Lake is owned by Miller Racing LLC, BAG Racing Stables LLC, and Stefania Farms LLC and was bred by Peggy Costanzo who raised the Florida-bred with her husband Tony on their Ocala farm.
Return to the February 7 issue of Wire to Wire
