Gulfstream: Mystic Lake leads Joseph’s 4 in Princess Rooney

Led by Mystic Lake and her three-race winning streak, Saffie Joseph Jr. has four entrants in the field of eight fillies and mares for Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Princess Rooney Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Joseph, the meet’s leading trainer, saddled Soul of an Angel for a victory in last year’s seven-furlong, win-and-you’re-in race for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. That automatic berth again comes with a victory Saturday.

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C2 Racing Stable, Agave Racing Stable and Ken Reimer’s Soul of an Angel followed her 3 1/2-length Princess Rooney score with a last-to-first, half-length victory in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint last year at Del Mar.

Mystic Lake, also owned by C2, is a two-time Grade 2 winner. She built her winning streak in three black-type stakes. She captured the Memorial Day Sprint at Lone Star Park by two lengths, the Dashing Beauty at Delaware Park by 5 3/4 and the Pink Ribbon at Charles Town by three. Reylu Gutiérrez was named to ride the 4-year-old daughter of Mo Town for the first time.

C2, Miller Racing, Paul Braverman and Timothy Punch’s Haulin Ice enters the Princess Rooney off a second-place finish in the Sheer Drama at Gulfstream. That defeat snapped a four-stakes winning streak which included a victory in the Vagrancy (G3) at Aqueduct. Édgard Zayas has the return call aboard the Arkansas-bred daughter of Coal Front.

Miller Racing’s Claret Beret drops from a sixth-place finish in the Ballerina (G1) at Saratoga which followed a runner-up finish in the Chicago (G2) at Churchill Downs. Ultimate Authority is slated to make her first start for Joseph and Miller after a third-place finish in the Santa Maria (G2) at Santa Anita. Micah Husbands has the call on Claret Beret, and Skyler Spanabel is named on Ultimate Authority.

Blu Boy Racing and Matty Dan Racing Stable’s Vincey Girl is headed for a rubber-match race in the Princess Rooney with Haulin Ice. The José D’Angelo-trained 4-year-old daughter of Race Day finished second to Haulin Ice in the Musical Romance, beaten by 3 1/4 lengths. Then Vincey Girl prevailed over Haulin Ice by 3 3/4 lengths in the Sheer Drama at Gulfstream. Returning Édwin González was aboard in both races.

MyRacehorse and JR Ranch’s Reputation enters the Princess Rooney off a 6 3/4-length romp in her stakes debut in the seven-furlong Tyson Gilpin Stakes at Colonial Downs. The Gustavo Delgado-trained 3-year-old daughter of Bolt d’Oro captured a seven-furlong allowance in her prior start, graduating at Gulfstream Park by 8 1/4 lengths April 13. Miguel Vásquez has the mount on Reputation.

Porta Pia Stables’ Nerazurri, who finished third behind Vincey Girl and Haulin Ice in the Sheer Drama, and trainer Dante Zanelli Jr.’s Gallop d’Hermes round out the field.

The Princess Rooney on Saturday at 5:36 p.m. EDT headlines an 11-race card that includes three other stakes. The first post is at 12:50 p.m.

Horse Racing Nation speed figures are in parentheses.