Mystic Guide on to bigger things after sharp Razorback win
Godolphin's Mystic Guide, making his 4-year-old debut, made a sweeping move around the turn and drew away to a sixth-length victory in Saturday’s $600,000 Razorback Handicap (G3), the first of three stakes on the card.
Ridden by Luis Saez, Mystic Guide was unhurried early as longshot Hunka Burning Love led the field of seven through early fractions of :23 3/5 and :47 3/5 for the first half mile. The eventual winner, racing on the outside, gradually moved closer to the front down the backstretch, poked his head in front around the bend and once he reached the top of the stretch, drew well clear to win in 1:44 2/5 for the 1 1/16 miles over a sloppy track.
2020 Southwest Stakes winner Silver Prospector, who stalked the pace throughout, made a mild bid in the stretch, but had to settle for second with 7-5 favorite Owendale third.
“Look, it’s so rewarding with a horse like this that we were really patient with as a 3-year-old,” trainer Mike Stidham said. “We spaced his races, gave him time to develop. It’s really paying off now. That’s the best part of it all. Jimmy Bell and Dan Pride are just always allowing us to do the right thing for the horse. Now, it’s paying dividends.
"As far as they go, he’ll run," Stidham added. "Certainly in the back of our mind, the Dubai World Cup is there. Now, after a performance like that, it’s on the table, for sure.”
The regally bred Mystic Guide, by Ghostzapper out of the Grade 1 winning mare Music Note, improved his record to 3-2-2 in seven starts and he has now earned $553,200. As the 2-1 second choice in the field, the winner paid $6.40, $3.80 and $2.60.
One race later, Ten Broeck Farm, Inc.’s Kimari, winner of last year’s Purple Martin Stakes, made a triumphant return to Oaklawn with a 4 ¼ length victory over Casual in the $200,000 Spring Fever Stakes. Shesomajestic closed from last to get third, while pacesetting Amy’s Challenge faded to fourth. Winning time was 1:04 for 5 1/2 furlongs over a sloppy track.
Kimari returned $3.40, $2.60 and $2.40.
Live racing resumes at 1 p.m. Sunday with a 10-race card highlighted by three stakes, including the $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) where two-time champion Monomoy Girl will make her seasonal debut.