BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Unable to hit the board in her two previous races at Churchill Downs, Florida-bred Spirit Wind has been labeled as the 9-5 morning line favorite to improve her record under the twin spires in Saturday’s $300,000 Dream Supreme. Nine fillies and mares, 3-years-old and older will go six furlongs.
Having won half of her 14 career starts with three seconds and a third, Spirit Wind missed finishing in the money in her two previous races at Churchill Downs. She was fourth in the 2023 Winning Colors (Grade 3) won by champion Echo Zulu and sixth in the Grade 1 Dusty Road won by Vahva in May.
Two of her wins came in consecutive starts earlier this year with a three-quarters of a length score in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss at Saratoga Race Course in July after winning the $100,000 Memorial Day Sprint at Lone Star Park in May.
The 5-year-old mare appears to be coming into Saturday’s race in good form having finished second to Zeitlos last out in the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America at Keeneland on Oct. 5.
Spirit Wind is owned by Miller Racing LLC, who purchased her privately from breeder Jacks or Better Farm Inc. after she won the Grade 3 Sugar Swirl at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 23. She has won two of six starts with a second and third for the new connections while earning $256,900.
She is by Double Diamond Farm stallion Bahamian Squall out of Sacred Psalm, by Awesome of Course and has earned $619,340.
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith traveling from his base in Southern California to ride Spirit Wind and they have drawn post three.
Mystic Pleasure tries to win her second consecutive race Saturday after winning a third condition, $100,000 optional claiming going six-and-a-half furlongs at Keeneland on Oct. 13.
Trained by Rodolphe Brisset for Storyteller Racing, Mystic Pleasure was third in two previous attempts against stakes fillies and mares, both at a mile, prior to the Keeneland victory.
She finished third, but only a half-length behind winner Pigalle, in the $175,000 Groupie Doll at Ellis Park on Aug. 11 and third in the $99,000 Twixt won by Miss New York at Laurel Park on Sept. 22.
Mystic Pleasure has won four with a second and two thirds in nine starts with earnings of $295,484.
The 4-year-old daughter of Good Magic will be ridden by Florent Geroux from post five and is 2-1 on the morning line.
Rounding out the field are Girls Weekend with Luis Saez in the irons, Evin Roman rides Upper Case, Lure’em In and jockey Irving Moncada, Accomplished Girl has Cristian Torres taking the call, Gerardo Corrales rides Awesome Treat, Into Love will have Luan Machado aboard and Francisco Arrieta will guide Miss Arlington.
