Saratoga 2024: Star of Mystery dominates boys in Quick Call

Godolphin’s U.K. homebred Star of Mystery showed star power when she beat the boys for the third time this year, this time in Sunday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Quick Call Stakes, a 5 1/2-furlong, outer-turf sprint for 3-year-olds at Saratoga.

Trainer Charlie Appleby had entered the Kodiac bay in Friday’s listed $150,000 Coronation Cup vs. sophomore fillies at the same distance but opted, instead, to run her against males again off a last-out third in the Jaipur (G1) on June at the Spa. Star of Mystery beat males when capturing the Al Wasl in her seasonal debut and the Blue Point Sprint (G2) vs. elders, both in January at Meydan.

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Chris Connett, assistant to Appleby, said Star of Mystery was much more relaxed Sunday than before her last effort, where she was fractious approaching the gate under returning jockey Flavien Prat.

“It’s a big thing for these European horses coming over here,” Connett said. “Their first runs can be a little bit intense for them, but that's why Charlie picks the horses he does, and they do acclimatize themselves really well. She comes alive when the gates open though, and she sure finished off really nicely.”

Star of Mystery broke alertly from post 5. Irad Ortiz Jr.-piloted No Nay Mets, who stumbled at the break of the Jaipur last out, shot to the front from post 1. Star of Mystery settled in fifth position to the outside of Smokey Smokey, sitting well off the pace set by No Nay Mets with Mansa Musa and Set in behind him through an opening quarter-mile in 21.16 seconds over the firm turf.

Free wheeling on the backstretch, No Nay Mets continued to lead through the turn with the order remaining unchanged behind him. Prat tipped Star of Mystery out to make her run as the half-mile elapsed in 43.90 seconds.

“I was good with the position. She jumped forward where I wasn’t going to be too far back. She was traveling well all the way around,” Prat said. “When I tipped her out, she just ran very well. She gave me a good kick.”

Entering the stretch, tiring No Nay Mets retreated, and Júnior Alvarado-piloted Mansa Musa assumed command. That did not last long. Star of Mystery gobbled up ground down the center of the course, and 2-for-3 Fandom looked to close from sixth place.

Star of Mystery, the field’s lone filly, put a head in front of Mansa Musa at the stretch call. When asked by Prat, she kicked on impressively to win by 1 1/2 lengths over Mansa Musa with a final time of 1:00.97.

Fandom and American Rascal, both campaigned by Stonestreet Stables, got up from the back of the field for third and fourth, respectively. Smokey Smokey, Set and No Nay Mets completed the order of finish.

Apollo Ten and Feltrinelli were redirected to the My Frenchman at Monmouth Park, winning and finishing fourth, respectively. Main-track-only entrants Baraye and Works for Me also were scratched.

Connett said runner-up efforts against males at Meydan in March in the Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint (G3) and the Al Quoz Sprint (G1) showed Star of Mystery’s potential. He said she ran into a tough foe last out when Cogburn set a track and North American of 59.80 seconds in the 5 1/2-furlong Jaipur.

“Her form in Dubai was really strong. ... That gives you confidence to come over here,” Connett said. “She ran really well (in the Jaipur). Obviously the horse that won the race broke the track record and was a step out. But she belongs in that kind of category, and a drop down in grade today hopefully gives her a confidence builder, and we’ll speak to Charlie and see where he wants to put her in next.”

Prat, winning jockey of Friday’s Wilton with Miss Justify and Saturday’s Diana (G1) with Whitebeam, finished opening week at Saratoga as the leading rider with seven wins. He said the filly was much more relaxed before her second stateside outing.

“She was a handful last time, so I took my time, and we went straight behind the gate, and she just switched off so nice,” Prat said. “I was a bit worried she was going to sleep, but she was just an old pro today.”

Alvarado said Bill Mott-trained Mansa Musa was game in defeat to a formidable foe.

“When we turned for home, I tipped him out, and he was there for me,” Alvarado said. “He ran very well. We caught a monster today. We got second best today. Nothing to be ashamed of. I got to the wire, and my horse was running all out. The other one was probably just the best horse today.”

Out of Shamardal mare Mistrusting, Star of Mystery is a half-sister to Appleby-trained 2021 Just a Game (G1) and Diana (G1) winner Althiqa. She returned $3.30 for a $2 win bet as the post-time favorite while improving her record to 11: 5-4-1 and banking $96,250 in victory.