BY BROCK SHERIDAN
A winner of the Grade 3 Adirondack in her third start last year as a juvenile, Arindel homebred Mythical looks for her first graded stakes victory this year in Saturday’s $400,000 Raven Run (Grade 2) at Keeneland. Trained by Jorge Delgado, Mythical is one of a dozen 3-year-old fillies in the seven-furlong Raven Run.
An out-of-state victory at this level by the Florida-bred daughter of St Patrick’s Day would earn Arindel as breeders a $5,000 Export Incentive paid by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Mythical just missed against graded stakes company in her last race on September 6 at Saratoga Race Course when second to Mashallah in the six-furlong Prioress (G3) with Hen Party third. Trainer Brendan Walsh has Mashallah returning for the Raven Run as does trainer Eion Harty with Hen Party.
Mythical is also set to face the Ian Wilkes-trained A Fine Chardonnay for the third time. A Fine Chardonnay was third in the $122,000 Any Limit won by Mythical at Gulfstream Park in March and was third in the Grade 3 Victory Ride at Saratoga in July, a race in which Mythical tired to finish eight after pressing the pace early.
In seven starts this year, Mythical also dominated Florida-bred fillies in the $100,000 FHBPA Sophomore Fillies Sprint at Gulfstream, winning the six-furlong affair by five-and-a-half lengths on April 25.
Mythical started the year finishing fifth in the Grade 3 Forward Gal going seven furlongs at Gulfstream on January 31 and was third in the $175,000 Jersey Girl going six furlongs at Gulfstream on June 4.
Out of the Brethren mare Lailoni, Mythical has won seven times, six in stakes, with a second and a third in 13 career starts. She sports $763,965 in earnings, second only to Percy’s Bar and her $1,148,646 among Raven Run entrants.
Emisael Jaramillo, who was aboard Mythical in all six of her starts last year, winning five, will be aboard Saturday for the first time this year. They are 21-1 on the morning line and have post two.
Mashallah is the 8-5 morning line favorite with her career record of four wins in five starts, all as a 3-year-old. In addition to the Prioress, the bay daughter of Maxfield won the $102,000 Tyson Gilpin at Colonial Downs on August 1; a first condition, $100,000 optional claiming at Saratoga on July 4 and a six-furlong maiden special weight on debut at Keeneland on April 23.
Tyler Gaffalione has the call on Mashallah from post nine.
Rounding out of the field are Army’s Marauder with Luis Saez up, Rafael Bejarano teams with Hen Party, Coco Connect will have jockey Edgar Morales, Yo Fancy has Cristian Torres named in the program, Jose Ortiz has the assignment on Percy’s Bar, Brian Hernandez Jr. rides A Fine Chardonnay, Conceit will carry Irad Ortiz Jr., With a Kiss will have John Velazquez in the saddle, Flavien Prat has the engagement on Movie Night and Junior Alvarado captains Star Actress.
Return to the October 15 issue of Wire to Wire
