BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-bred millionaire Mystic Lake returns to Lone Star Park Monday for her defense of the $100,000 Memorial Day Sprint, a six-furlong test for seven fillies and mares, 3-years-old and older.
In addition to the purse, Mystic Lake will run for a $4,000 Export Incentive from the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association paid to breeder Peggy Costanzo of Inglewood, Florida should she win.
Last year, the Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained mare cruised to a two-length victory in the slop to win the Memorial Day Sprint, leading from start to finish in the first of four consecutive stakes victories at four different tracks. She next won the $113,000 Dashing Beauty at Delaware Park in July, the $250,000 Misty Bennett Pink Ribbon at Charles Town in August and the $150,000 Liberty Bell at Parx Racing on September 20.
Mystic Lake finished last year failing to win her second consecutive Sugar Swirl (Listed) at Gulfstream Park in December but promptly returned to the winner’s circle following her next start, a seven-and-a-half rout of the $120,000 Minaret at Tampa Bay Downs on February 7. She then won the $70,000 Manatee overnight handicap by four-and-a-quarter lengths at Tampa Bay Downs on March 7 before unsuccessfully returning to Grade 1 company in the Resolute Racing Madison at Keeneland on April 4, finishing sixth.
The 5-year-old daughter of Mo Town enters the Memorial Day Sprint off a second to Grammy Girl in the Grade 3 Vagrancy during the Belmont at Big A meet at Aqueduct on May 3.
Mystic Lake has won 13 of 25 career starts with four seconds and two thirds while banking $1,623,267. She currently races for owners Miller Racing, BAG Racing Stable and Robert H. Zoellner and will be ridden Monday by Irad Ortiz Jr. from post one.
Mystic Lake is out of Salty Soul, by Itsmyluckyday and is the second choice at 8-5 on the morning line.
The 6-5 favorite in the program is Thermal, who invades from Southern California with trainer John Sadler.
Thermal has won two of her last three, most recently a five-and-a-half-length victory in an upper tier, $80,000 optional claiming going six-and-a-half furlongs at Santa Anita on March 15. In one other start this year, the 5-year-old daughter of Nyquist was fourth, beaten nearly six lengths by Margarita Girl in the six-furlong Las Flores (G3) at Santa Anita on January 11. She finished last year with a nearly four-length score in a first condition, $50,000 optional claiming going six furlongs on October 17.
Thermal has earned $174,017 for By Talla Racing, who owns the bay mare with the trainer.
Luis Saez has the mount on Thermal from post three.
Rounding out the field are Letta’s Legacy with David Cabrera up, Aye Candy will have jockey Geovanni Franco, Blushing Belle will be ridden by Mario Fuentes, Ramon Vazquez has the assignment on Practical Dream and Reclusive with Rodolfo Guerra in the saddle.
Return to the May 22 issue of Wire to Wire
