BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Late August at Charles Town Races has been very productive for Mystic Lake the last two years as the Florida-bred daughter of Uncle Mo won the Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks in 2024 and last year’s $250,000 Misty Bennett Pink Ribbon. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has the 5-year-old millionaire returning Friday night to defend her title in the seven-furlong Pink Ribbon, which this year offers $300,000 to eight fillies and mares, 3-years-old and older.
A victory in a stakes race at this level outside Florida is worth a $4,000 Export Incentive paid by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association to the breeder.
Mystic Lake comes into this year’s Pink Ribbon off a three-month break, making her first start since third in the $100,000 Memorial Day Sprint for fillies and mares going six furlongs at Lone Star Park on May 15.
Early this year at Tampa Bay Downs, Mystic Lake was a seven-and-a-half-length winner of the $120,000 Minaret in February and a four-and-a-half-length victress in the $75,000 Manatee overnight handicap in March before trying Grade 1 fillies and mares in the seven-furlong Madison at Keeneland on April 4. She finished sixth in the Madison but bounced back to run second to Grammy Girl in Grade 3 Vagrancy during the Belmont at Big A meet on May 3 before heading to Lone Star.
Mystic Lake has amassed $1,634,102 from winning half of her 26 career starts adding four seconds and three thirds. Owned by Miller Racing, BAG Racing Stables and Robert H. Zoellner, Mystic Lake is by Mo Town out of Salty Soul, by Itsmyluckyday and was bred in Florida by Peggy Costanzo.
She is rated at 7-2 on the morning line and will be ridden from post three by Tyler Gaffalione.
Irish Maxima presents the biggest challenge for Mystic Lake as a winner of her last four races including one-length victories in the Grade 2 Ruffian going a mile during the Belmont a Big A meet on May 9 and in the $145,000 Dashing Beauty going six furlongs at Delaware Park last time on July 23.
Trained by John Servis for Irish Three Racing, Irish Maxima also won an upper level, $75,000 optional claiming at Aqueduct in March and a upper tier, $100,000 optional claiming over seven furlongs at Parx Racing on April 14.
Irish Maxima has won 12 of 19 lifetime races with a second and a third for earnings of $846,318.
The 5-year-old daughter of Maximus Mischief has Frankie Pennington named to ride from five five and they are the 2-1 morning line favorites.
Completing the field are Icona Mama with Manny Franco up, Professor Grace will be ridden by Carlos Lopez, jockey Denis Araujo teams with Serenade Me, Anakarina will have Paco Lopez in the saddle, Luis Saez will be aboard Overcome Adversity and Foie Gras will be guided by Ricardo Santana Jr.
Return to the August 26 issue of Wire to Wire
