Mystic Lake scores in the Sugar Swirl (Coglianese)
David Joseph/Gulfstream Park
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – After watching Grade 2 winner Mystic Lake win Saturday’s $140,000 Sugar Swirl at Gulfstream Park, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., said “[That’s] a relief.”
Having entered five of the seven starters in the Sugar Swirl, and running three, Joseph remarked that “those kinds of races, nothing to gain, only to lose.”
Fortunately, Mystic Lake had a relatively easy time on his way to the winner’s circle, rating under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. behind pacesetter Launch before taking the lead above the eighth pole and driving to a three-quarters of a length score while covering the six furlongs in 1:11.20.
Stakes winner Launch, who set fractions of :22.40 and :46.38, was passed in deep stretch for the place by a closing Socially Selective. Joseph’s two others starters, Intrepid Daydream and R Harper Rose, finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
“Hopefully, onwards and upwards from here,” said Joseph of the 3-year-old filly, owned by C2 Racing Stable LLC and Stefania Farms LLC. A winner of the Charles Town Oaks (G2) and Miss Preakness (G3), Joseph said Mystic Lake will probably run next Jan. 25, Pegasus World Cup Day, in the Inside Information (G2) at seven furlongs.
