Mystic Lake fights back and scores in the Inside Information (Coglianese)
David Joseph/Gulfstream Park
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. — C2 Racing Stable LLC and Stefania Farms’ Mystic Lake fought back after briefly relinquishing the lead in the stretch to capture Saturday’s $215,000 Inside Information (G2) at Gulfstream Park, getting even with runner-up Emery by a hard-fought neck.
Mystic Lake, who finished second behind Emery by three-quarters of a length in the Victory Ride (G3) at Aqueduct in July, would not be denied in Saturday’s seven-furlong sprint for fillies and mares on Saturday’s 13-race Pegasus World Cup Day program.
Sent to post as the 2-1 second choice in a field of five, Mystic Lake broke alertly to set the pace under heavy pressure from defending Inside Information champ Olivia Darling and Emery, the 4-5 favorite, to her outside. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained pacesetter cut fractions of 22.94 and 45.69 seconds for the first half-mile under Irad Ortiz Jr.
The 4-year-old daughter of Mo Town continue to lead under pressure on the far turn, where Olivia Darling began to weaken. Jody’s Pride quickly took her place between the beleaguered pacesetter and Emery turning for home to suddenly loom as an upset possibility.
Jody’s Pride pulled alongside Mystic Lake in the stretch and appeared on her way to victory, but Mystic Lake responded to Ortiz’s heavy urging to reestablish her lead. Emery made a last-ditch bid nearing the wire, but Mystic Lake was up to the task of evening the score with the Brad Cox trainee.
Mystic Lake, who was coming off a victory in the Dec. 21 Sugar Swirl at Gulfstream, ran seven furlongs in 1:22.59. Emery finished second, a head in front of Jody’s Pride.
Winning trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. (Mystic Lake): “I only knew we had it won at the wire – and I had to watch the replay to be sure. [Jody’s Pride] kept digging in, [Emery] was coming, but I knew we had horse, and she battled and battled. She showed a different dimension today, she had to battle for the first time, she showed a lot of guts.”
“We gave her time off after the Cotillion. She had a hard campaign, but we wanted to try the Cotillion, the Grade I, and if she was placed we would have been very happy. She showed a lot of heart to be fourth. Then we gave her a break. We thought about going out to the La Brea [Grade 1 at Santa Anita Dec. 26], but we would have to ship so far, we decided to stay at home, and that helped us today. It was the right decision.”
“She will go to the Madison [$650,000 G1 at Keeneland Apr. 5] next. She is 4-for-4 at seven furlongs on the dirt, I think that is her best distance. She continues to get better and better.”
Winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. (Mystic Lake): “She fought back. She broke so well. That was great. After the good break, I sat and waited and saved something for the end. She responded well.”
