Sweet Mystery takes an Allowance at Belmont at Big A Oct. 9. Photo by Adam Coglianese
NYRA Press Office
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Gallagher’s Stud homebred Sweet Mystery will make her stakes and two-turn debut in Sunday’s $250,000 Empire Distaff, a nine-furlong test for state-bred fillies and mares 3-years-old and up on Closing Day of the Belmont at the Big A fall meet.
Trained by Pat Quick, the sophomore Cupid grey boasts a perfect in-the-money record of 5-2-2-1, including a last-out allowance win over older state-bred company traveling one mile at the Big A.
With returning rider Jose Lezcano up from the inside post as the odds-on favorite, Sweet Mystery battled to the inside of Know It All Audrey through a half-mile in 48.14 before putting a head in front after three-quarters in 1:13.25 and dueled gamely to the wire with that rival to secure the half-length win in a final time of 1:38.51.
“She was expected to win that race, but there was a speed horse in there that we knew would go to the front,” Quick said. “We had to go with that horse and it showed me that she had a lot of fight in her. Her ears were pinned back the whole time and she wasn’t going to let that horse pass her for anything. That was very encouraging. She hasn’t shown us her best race yet.”
Sweet Mystery has improved her Beyer Speed Figures in each of her five outings, garnering an 86 for her last-out win. Now, the talented grey will have to pass her first two-turn test, while tackling seasoned stakes foes.
“I think she’ll do great. She raced a mile last time and had plenty left at the end. We’ve been training her on the training track, so she’s going two turns a lot there,” Quick said. “She’s training great and seems to be getting better and better, so we’ll give it a shot.”
Sweet Mystery is out of the Elusive Quality mare Fanfire, who is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winner Straight Story. Her third dam, Felicita, produced multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Take Charge Lady.
“Physically, she’s a big, strong beautiful filly. She keeps her weight on pretty good,” Quick said. “She has nice conformation and is well balanced. She has everything going for her. She has the pedigree and the physique, and she has talent.”
Sweet Mystery, who will exit post 4 under Lezcano, is listed at 5-1 on the morning line.
“She’s very classy. She’ll do whatever you want her to do. She can go to the front, or she can come from behind – whatever the rider asks her to do,” Quick said.
