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‘Rising Star’ Mystic Guide Gets It Done in Jim Dandy

‘TDN Rising Star’ Mystic Guide, sporting first-time blinkers, sat much handier to the pace than when last seen in the GIII Peter Pan S. on opening day of the Saratoga meet July 16, weaved his way through traffic to be within striking distance turning for home and kicked on gamely in the stretch for a career high.

A bit hesitant to load, the Godolphin homebred dropped out to the tail of the field, but trailed the dueling pacesetters by just about a half-dozen lengths down the backstretch. Rallying underneath odds-on Dr Post (Quality Road) on the turn, Mystic Guide was asked for his best a quarter mile out, was spun four wide into the lane, overhauled Jesus’ Team at the eighth pole and staved off a late charge from Liveyourbeastlife to get the money. Dr Post was a disappointing fourth.

“I know he was last down the backside, but he was definitely there when Jose [Ortiz] called on him today whereas the last time he was too late and had no chance,” winning trainer Mike Stidham said of the addition of blinkers. “Today, he was there when Jose called on him. Once he got through turning for home, I felt really good about him because he has a big kick. He put himself in a better spot today and gave himself a chance. It really is a pleasure to win a race like this at Saratoga.”

Tabbed a ‘Rising Star’ off a powerful performance in his two-turn debut at second asking at Fair Grounds Mar. 21, Mystic Guide was second-best behind Tap It to Win (Tapit) in a quickly run first-level allowance at Belmont June 4, then closed from far back to be third as the favorite in the Peter Pan.

As for returning in the GI Preakness S. Oct. 3, Stidham added, “It certainly is a race that we’ll look at. If our horse comes out of the race really well and we like the way he trains in the next couple of weeks, the Preakness would certainly be on the table no matter what happens today [in the Kentucky Derby].”

Pedigree Notes:

Mystic Guide is one of 79 black-type winners–43 graded–for the consistently top sire Ghostzapper. The 2004 Horse of the Year’s other graded scorers this year include GI Madison S. winner Guarana and GII Dance Smarty S. winner Theodora B. Godolphin homebred Mystic Guide is out of the five-time GISW A.P. Indy mare Music Note, who is a half-sister to G1 winner Musical Chimes (In Excess {Ire}) and a granddaughter of 1978 champion 2-year-old filly It’s in the Air (Mr. Prospector). Music Note’s most recent produce is a yearling filly by Maclean’s Music. Mystic Guide is the fourth graded winner resulting from the cross of Ghostzapper on an A.P. Indy mare, with the others being Moreno (GI), Champagne Problems (G3), and Matthewsburg (G3).

Saturday, Saratoga
JIM DANDY S.-GII, $150,000, Saratoga, 9-5, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:49.00, ft.
1–MYSTIC GUIDE, 118, c, 3, by Ghostzapper
                1st Dam: Music Note (MGISW, $1,615,000), by A.P. Indy
                2nd Dam: Note Musicale (GB), by Sadler’s Wells
                3rd Dam: It’s in the Air, by Mr. Prospector
   ‘TDN Rising Star’ 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES
   WIN. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Michael Stidham; J-Jose L. Ortiz.
$82,500. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-2, $143,200. Werk Nick
   Rating: A. Click for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Liveyourbeastlife, 118, c, 3, Ghostzapper–Ellie’s Moment, by
Kris S.. ($170,000 RNA Ylg ’18 KEESEP; $200,000 2yo ’19
FTFMAR). O-William H. Lawrence; B-Phillips Racing Partnership
(KY); T-Jorge R. Abreu. $30,000.
3–Jesus’ Team, 118, c, 3, Tapiture–Golden Memories, by Suave.
($30,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP). O-Grupo Seven C Stable; B-Pamela P.
Gartin (KY); T-Jose Francisco D’Angelo. $18,000.
Margins: 3/4, 3/4, 2 1/4. Odds: 2.30, 14.30, 4.90.
Also Ran: Dr Post, Celtic Striker, First Line. Scratched: Happy Saver. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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Brody’s Cause’s Sittin On Go Upsets in the Iroquois

Longshot Sittin On Go blew past his rivals in the stretch to become the first stakes winner for his freshman sire (by Giant’s Causeway), who was campaigned by these same connections. The chestnut was wheeling back on relatively short rest after an off-the-pace 4 1/4-length tally going five furlongs at Ellis Aug. 16–he earned just a 49 Beyer Speed Figure.

Unhurried early and guided a bit off the potentially dead rail, Sittin On Go traveled nicely on the bridle while far back as odds-on Therideofalifetime (Candy Ride {Arg}) zipped away through splits of :23.04 and :45.64. He was still hard held by Corey Lanerie heading around the turn, and circled up very wide into the lane. Midnight Bourbon wrestled the lead away from the chalk at the top of the lane, but Sittin On Go continued to gobble up ground and kick away convincingly to stamp his ticket to the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

“We’re having ourselves a great weekend,” said trainer Dale Romans, who also saddled ‘TDN Rising Star’ Girl Daddy (Uncle Mo) to a victory in Thursday’s GIII Pocahontas–the equivalent race to this one for fillies–for Dennis Albaugh and Jason Loutsch’s powerful stable. “This horse reminds us a lot of his father. We were pretty confident he’d be able to stretch out from his training and this race set up perfectly for us. We’re on to the Breeders’ Cup.”

Lanerie, who rode Brody’s Cause to an 11-1 victory in the 2015 GI Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity while employing very similar tactics, offered: “He broke really good and put me right where I thought he would be after watching his replay from Ellis Park. Down the backside, he was trying to get out on me. I don’t know why, but he settled in real nice. I was actually going to follow Dale’s other horse [Ultimate Badger {Commissioner}], but I had so much horse, I went to the outside and let him come on. Watching the races, it looked like the outside is the best place to be. I didn’t want any excuses for getting him stopped. I put him in the clear and he was just like his daddy.”

Dennis Albaugh said, “Man, to pick up the Pocahontas and then follow it up with the Iroquois two days later is unreal. We couldn’t be happier. That’s why we’re in the racing business. That horse was unbelievable coming around the turn. I was like, ‘Man, he’s moving.'”

Pedigree Notes:
Brody’s Cause was a $350,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase in 2014, and was third in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile after his Breeders’ Futurity win. He added the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. at three before checking in seventh in the GI Kentucky Derby. The Spendthrift Farm resident has been represented by three winners thus far.

More Than Ready has now sired the dams of 43 graded stakes winners. Dam Set’n On Ready–whose dam is by Brody’s Causeway’s sire Giant’s Causeway–was a precocious type who was claimed for $35,000 out of her final career start. She hails from the female family of European highweight sprinter Lucayan Prince, MGSW Comic Strip, and graded stakes winner and producer Silver Comic. Set’n On Rady was barren in her next two seasons before producing a Mor Spirit filly this January. She was bred back to Flameaway.

Saturday, Churchill Downs
IROQUOIS S. PRESENTED BY FORD-GIII, $200,000, Churchill Downs, 9-5, 2yo, 1m, 1:35.00, ft.
1–SITTIN ON GO, 118, c, 2, by Brody’s Cause
                1st Dam: Set’n On Ready (SP), by More Than Ready
                2nd Dam: Laughingly, by Giant’s Causeway
                3rd Dam: Now That’s Funny, by Saratoga Six
   1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($65,000
Wlg ’18 KEENOV; $62,000 RNA Ylg ’19 KEESEP). O-Albaugh
Family Stables LLC; B-Wynnstay LLC (KY); T-Dale L. Romans;
J-Corey J. Lanerie. $117,800. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0,
$145,520. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: C+.
2–Midnight Bourbon, 118, c, 2, Tiznow–Catch the Moon, by
Malibu Moon. ($525,000 Ylg ’19 KEESEP). O-Winchell
Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC
(KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $38,000.
3–Super Stock, 120, c, 2, Dialed In–Super Girlie, by Closing
Argument. ($70,000 Ylg ’19 KEESEP). O-Woolsey, Erv and
Asmussen, Keith; B-Pedro Gonzalez & P.J. Gonzalez (KY);
T-Steven M. Asmussen. $19,000.
Margins: 2HF, 1 3/4, 5 1/4. Odds: 24.00, 5.20, 8.30.
Also Ran: Therideofalifetime, Pico d’Oro, Notary, Ultimate Badger, Crazy Shot, Drop Anchor, Belafonte. Scratched: Dreamer’s Disease. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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Liam’s Map’s Rushie Too Strong in Pat Day Mile

Rushie, third behind Honor A. P. (Honor Code) and Authentic (Into Mischief) in the GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby June 6 and behind Art Collector (Bernardini) and Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland last out July 11, benefitted from a bit of class relief and cutback in distance to break through at the graded level.

Away in good order from the outside stall, the grey settled fifth early but worked his way up to third and deep as Vertical Threat (Tapiture) set the pace from a hard-held Tap It To Win. Coasting up outside those two nearing the stretch, Rushie was roused to the lead at the three-sixteenths and ran out a convincing winner.

“I had the perfect trip,” said winning rider Javier Castellano. “I was outside and took advantage of it. The way the race developed it was perfect, it was what I was looking for today. We sat two or three lengths off the pace and I kept track of those horses. When we turned for home, I asked him and the horse responded so well. I think the mile was perfect today for the horse. I’m glad we got it done.”

Rushie’s set of past performances is a who’s who of this year’s Triple Crown trail. He was a well-beaten sixth to Thousand Words (Pioneerof the Nile) sprinting at Santa Anita last October, and resurfaced to graduate when stretched out to this distance (but around two turns) back in Arcadia Feb. 1. A distant second to brilliant ‘TDN Rising Star’ Charlatan (Speightstown) in a Mar. 14 optional claimer, he cleared his first-level allowance condition over GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. runner-up Candy Tycoon (Twirling Candy) at Oaklawn May 2 before his aforementioned graded tries, and had been under consideration for the GI Kentucky Derby.

“Part of me wanted to go with the Derby,” admitted trainer Mike McCarthy. “The horse was training well all along but I can’t thank the owners enough for supporting me. We ended up in the Pat Day Mile and were rewarded with a great effort. Hopefully this race sets us up for a solid fall campaign. I’m not sure which way we go from here. It’s been a long day and a tough day yesterday in the [GI Kentucky] Oaks [with fourth finisher Speech {Mr Speaker}], so we’re just going to savor this one and see what happens down the road.”

Pedigree Notes:
Rushie becomes the third graded stakes winner for second-crop sire Liam’s Map (Unbridled’s Song), who is also responsible for Thursday’s GIII Pocahontas S. runner-up Crazy Beautiful. He’s the first graded winner for Colonel John as a broodmare sire. Unraced dam Conquest Angel, a $300,000 OBS April grad and half-sister to Grade I-winning juvenile Peace and War (War Front), was carrying Rushie when she sold to Ocala Stud for $120,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November dispersal of Conquest Stables. Rushie is her first foal, and breezed in :21 3/5 at last year’s OBS March sale. Conquest Angel has an unraced 2-year-old filly by Uncaptured, a yearling filly by Jess’s Dream and a foal colt by Awesome Slew. She was bred back to Awesome Slew for 2021.

Saturday, Churchill Downs
PAT DAY MILE S. PRESENTED BY LG AND E AND KU-GII, $500,000, Churchill Downs, 9-5, 3yo, 1m, 1:34.41, ft.
1–RUSHIE, 118, c, 3, by Liam’s Map
                1st Dam: Conquest Angel, by Colonel John
                2nd Dam: More Oats Please, by Smart Strike
                3rd Dam: Miss Yiayia, by Gilded Time
   1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($70,000
2yo ’19 OBSMAR). O-Jim & Donna Daniell; B-Ocala Stud (FL);
T-Michael W. McCarthy; J-Javier Castellano. $303,800. Lifetime
Record: 7-3-1-2, $493,151. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sonneman, 118, c, 3, Curlin–Zardana (Brz), by Crimson Tide
(Ire). ($375,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP). O-Courtlandt Farms (Donald
and Donna Adam); B-Arnold Zetcher LLC (KY); T-Steven M.
Asmussen. $98,000.
3–Tap It to Win, 118, r, 3, Tapit–Onepointhreekarats, by
Medaglia d’Oro. O-Live Oak Plantation; B-Live Oak Stud (FL);
T-Mark E. Casse. $49,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 2.90, 25.80, 3.50.
Also Ran: Shashashakemeup, Echo Town, Vertical Threat, Digital. Scratched: Cezanne, No Parole. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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Lookin At Lucky’s Fancy Liquor Makes the Grade in American Turf

Fancy Liquor–who had employed a front-running or pressing style in each of his five prior starts–benefitted from a heady ride by red-hot Florent Geroux to pick up the pieces after a hot pace materialized.

Unhurried early from his outside draw, the dark bay sat fifth in the early going as a trio of rivals zipped away to duel through hot splits of :23.04, :46.48 and 1:11.23. Favored Smooth Like Strait (Midnight Lute) shook free of his pace foes heading for home, but he was softened up for the stretch drive, and the first to tackle him was Fancy Liquor’s stablemate Field Pass. Fancy Liquor followed his stablemate’s move into the lane, and struck the front with a sixteenth to run. He briefly swapped back over to his wrong lead, but kept finding to hold safe a late bid from first-time-turfer Taishan.

“This horse seems to be still learning,” said Geroux, who won five on Friday including the GI Kentucky Oaks. “He broke really well but the horses in front of me were going really fast. He’s shown in the past he’s run well on the lead but he doesn’t necessarily have to have the lead. The race I rode aboard him at Keeneland (the Transylvania), he came from just off the pace and we got beat by Field Pass that day, but I know [Fancy Liquor] was still learning and getting better. Even back in the Jeff Ruby Steaks, where [Field Pass] beat us there, too, [Fancy Liquor] ran a really solid race.”

A narrow debut winner at Gulfstream in February, Fancy Liquor was third to Field Pass in the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks six weeks later. Second in a local allowance June 11, he was beaten just a neck when third again behind Field Pass in the GIII Transylvania S. at Keeneland July 12, and came out on the right side of a bob in Indiana’s Caesars S. over yielding sod Aug. 12.

“I wasn’t expecting what we got, but it worked out. So I’m very pleased,” said first and third-finishing trainer Mike Maker. “Field Pass is a stakes winner over this course and didn’t quite run his race at Saratoga. Tyler [Gaffalione] didn’t feel like he handled the softer going today but still ran a good race. Flo said he was loaded, on the gallop out and everything.”

Pedigree Notes:
Fancy Liquor becomes the 36th graded winner for Lookin At Lucky, who also sired last year’s GI Kentucky Derby winner via DQ Country House. These connections campaigned Fancy Liquor’s dam, a speedy starter allowance type who competed mostly on turf and synthetic. She is the first mare by obscure stallion Secret Romeo, who stood in Michigan and Washington, to produce a graded winner. Brandys Secret’s 2-year-old filly Miss Eau de Vie (Commissioner) was fourth in her second start here on Tuesday. Brandys Secret has a yearling filly by Tamarkuz and was bred back to Lookin At Lucky for 2021.

Saturday, Churchill Downs
AMERICAN TURF S. PRESENTED BY SMITHFIELD-GII, $500,000, Churchill Downs, 9-5, 3yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:42.83, fm.
1–FANCY LIQUOR, 118, c, 3, by Lookin At Lucky
                1st Dam: Brandys Secret, by Secret Romeo
                2nd Dam: Money for Brandy, by Quiet Enjoyment
                3rd Dam: Monetary Shot, by Monetary Gift
   1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O-Skychai Racing LLC and Sand
Dollar Stable LLC; B-Hot Pink Stable & Skychai Racing LLC (KY);
T-Michael J. Maker; J-Florent Geroux. $303,800. Lifetime
Record: 6-3-1-2, $465,050. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for
   eNicks report and 5-cross pedigree.
2–Taishan, 118, c, 3, Twirling Candy–Grace Phil, by
Philanthropist. ($22,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP; $150,000 2yo ’19
OBSMAR). O-Calvin Nguyen & Joey Tran; B-Nursery Place,
Donaldson & Broadbent (KY); T-Richard Baltas. $98,000.
3–Field Pass, 120, c, 3, Lemon Drop Kid–Only Me, by Runaway
Groom. ($37,000 Ylg ’18 EASOCT). O-Three Diamonds Farm;
B-Mark Brown Grier (MD); T-Michael J. Maker. $49,000.
Margins: HF, 1 1/4, 2 1/4. Odds: 4.80, 11.00, 1.90.
Also Ran: Smooth Like Strait, King Theo, Sugoi, American Butterfly. Scratched: Sunsation. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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