Gulfstream Park: Mythical and Strategic Risk win stakes

Strategic Risk broke through with an impressive performance in Saturday's $300,000 In Reality at Gulfstream Park, romping by nine lengths in the third and final leg of the 2025 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes for 2-year-olds sired by accredited Florida-bred stallions.

The John Oxley homebred, sent off at 6-1 under Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano, stalked the pace before sweeping to command at the top of the stretch and drawing clear in 1:44.85 for the 1 1/16-mile distance.

"He was relaxed early in the race. I knew when I asked him, he was going to explode," Castellano said. "I was waiting for the best opportunity to ask him, and he did it. He did an amazing job. He handled everything well."

The son of Noble Bird had won his debut at Gulfstream by 8 1/4 lengths before disappointing in his next three starts. He finished fourth in the Sanford (G3), sixth in the With Anticipation (G2) on turf at Saratoga and third in the Oct. 18 Affirmed, the seven-furlong second leg of the Florida Sire Stakes series won by 6-5 favorite Khozalite.

Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse always believed the talent was there.

"We thought early on he was a really good horse. He broke his maiden. I thought he was about 80% at that time," Casse said by phone from his Ocala farm. "We took him to New York and he didn't do great there. He didn't train that great. He worked on the grass and I tried him on the grass. I brought him home and gave him a little break in Ocala.

"I said, 'You know what? He's trained well enough, I think I'll try him in the Stakes,' the last one. He ran OK. I told Mr. Oxley, 'I think this horse is better than he ran.' He trained well into this race. Mr. Oxley asked me how I thought he'd run, and I said, 'I think he'll run really well.' I didn't know he'd win the way he won, but it was nice."

In Saturday's race, Roger That Dana set the pace with Khozalite and Trelawny in close pursuit through fractions of 23.54 and 47.98 seconds for the first half-mile. As Roger That Dana and Khozalite hooked up on the turn, Strategic Risk launched his rally a few lengths back.

Casse expressed no surprise that the colt excelled when stretching out around two turns on dirt for the first time.

"I trained his dad. I trained his mom, too, but I don't think she ever ran. She was by Afleet Alex. His dad held a track record at Pimlico. He won the Pimlico Special at a mile and 3/16ths. He was a multiple Grade 1 winner for Mr. Oxley," Casse said. "There's no reason this horse shouldn't run all day."

The Town, trained by Brad Cox, recovered from a troubled start to finish second. The Keeneland maiden winner entered off a late-closing runner-up effort in his Oct. 24 debut. Roger That Dana held on for third, 1 1/4 lengths back.

Casse has no specific next-out plans for Strategic Risk.

"This was impressive. We don't have a lot of options after this, so we'll try some open company," he said. "The only thing I can tell you for sure, it will be around two turns."

Mythical passes two turn test in My Dear Girl

Arindel's homebred Mythical overcame an unexpected trip to capture Saturday's $300,000 My Dear Girl at Gulfstream Park.

The 2-year-old filly, who entered as the 1-9 favorite, shook off early pace pressure from Love Like Lucy and held off a late bid from 30-1 long shot Dare Greatly to score by 2 1/2 lengths in her two-turn debut.

The My Dear Girl for fillies and the $300,000 In Reality, each going 1 1/16 miles, concluded the 44th edition of the $1.2 million Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association Florida Sire Stakes series for 2-year-olds by accredited Florida stallions.

Mythical improved her record to 6: 5-1-0 and claimed her fourth stakes victory. The Grade 3 winner bounced back from her first career loss with a dominant score in the second leg of the series, the Oct. 18 Susan's Girl, when she rated early before closing with aplomb.

Saturday's race unfolded differently. Mythical broke sharply and went straight to the lead, pressed by Love Like Lucy through a quarter-mile in 22.81 seconds as regular rider Emisael Jaramillo kept her under a snug hold.

"I didn't want to be in front. I think her best race was the previous race when she was relaxed and closed. That's kind of what I wanted to see," trainer Jorge Delgado said. "She had too much pressure from the beginning and she was getting a little tired, but she was the best horse.

"I think if she got through a little bit easier in the first quarter, she would have closed a little stronger. But that's part of racing. I knew she was the class of the race and I knew she was the best filly in the race. Something would have to happen really bad for her to lose."

Jaramillo slowed the pace through a half-mile in 46.58 seconds as Love Like Lucy began to fade. Dare Greatly revved up on the far outside under Rajiv Maragh and moved into contention midway around the far turn.

Mythical remained firmly in control once straightened for home, completing the distance in 1:45.39 over a fast main track. Dare Greatly finished 15 1/4 lengths ahead of Win Bet Only, followed by Love Like Lucy, Bayou Brigid and Lady Chance.

Jaramillo has ridden in all of Mythical's starts, including her 4 1/2-furlong graduation April 17 at Gulfstream, a victory over males in the 5 1/2-furlong Tremont and a win over fillies in the Adirondack (G3) at Saratoga. Her five wins have come by 26 combined lengths.

Mythical will target a 2026 debut in the $150,000 Forward Gal (G3), a seven-furlong sprint Jan. 31. The Forward Gal kicks off the 3-year-old filly stakes series on the dirt at the championship meet, followed by the $200,000 Davona Dale (G2) going one mile Feb. 28 and the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) at 1 1/16 miles March 28.

"I'm going to talk to Brian and to his dad and see what the best direction is with the filly and go from there," Delgado said. "I do believe she can go two turns. She's a filly that's still learning. Like any horse when they have the good trip, they run better. I don't think she had the best trip.