Mira Mission kept his perfect record on the Gulfstream Park grass when outdueling French import Mouillage through the lane for a three-quarter-length victory in his stakes debut Saturday in the $150,000 Canadian Turf Stakes (G3).
Campaigned by Mary Abeel Sullivan Revocable Trust, homebred Mira Mission won twice during last winter's Championship Meet for previous trainer Tom Bush and came into the Canadian Turf off a half-length optional claiming allowance triumph for trainer Ian Wilkes Jan. 15.
In the Canadian Turf, Mira Mission was settled in sixth under jockey Julien Leparoux as 10-1 longshot Clear Vision, winner of the one-mile Tropical Turf (G3) Jan. 8, outran 1-5 favorite Never Surprised for the early lead.
Clear Vision went a quarter-mile in :23.76 seconds and a half in :47.54 pressed to his outside by Never Surprised, exiting a runner-up finish to defending winner Colonel Liam in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) Jan. 29. Noble Indy and Mouillage joined the chase midway around the turn as Mira Mission began to roll on the far outside, engaged Mouillage in midstretch and edged clear, completing 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.43 on turf rated as good.
Sent off at 8-1, he paid $18.
Mouillage, racing first time in the U.S., was a clear second, while Grade 3 winner English Bee outfinished Noble Indy for third in the race for 4-year-olds and older. They were followed by Never Surprised, Clear Vision and Sigiloso in the seven-horse field.
Leparoux said the race set up well for Mira Mission.
“Before the race, looking at the paper, I didn't know what was going to happen really,” he said. “I'm glad the favorite had some pressure early on. He didn't get an easy lead, so we could sit behind, relax, and make one run. He ran a big race. I thought he had a good chance, but the favorite looked hard to beat on paper. I'm very proud of him. He's getting better and better.”
A homebred 4-year-old gelding by Noble Mission out of the Dynaformer mare Kazamira, Mira Mission has a 5-1-2 career line from 10 starts and earnings of $261,950.
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