G3 Miss Preakness Victory for Mystic Lake

It was a third stakes victory in her last five starts for Mystic Lake (3f Mo Town x Salty Soul, by Itsmyluckyday) on Friday with a win in the Grade III Miss Preakness Stakes.

The filly broke closest to the rail and quickly went to the lead in the six-furlong dirt race. She held at least a length on the rest of the field through much of the run until they hit the stretch. At that point, Flavien Prat turned her loose and Mystic Lake bolted away from the field.

Never asked for her best, Mystic Lake romped to a 4 ½ win for her first graded stakes victory.

“She is just a consistent filly, and she ran big today,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “She has run well on the dirt. She has won her last three on the dirt. The only blemish on her record was her first time on the dirt (career debut last August at Gulfstream when ninth). For some reason she did not break that day and ran poorly. I am just thankful to get this win, to win a graded stake for the owners. They have been great supporters of us.”

Racing for C2 Racing Stable and Stefania Farms, she has won three of five starts this year and finished in the top three of seven of nine career starts.

A $130,000 juvenile purchase last year, the Peggy Costanzo-bred is a granddaughter of 23-time winner and the stakes placed Pyramyst. That mare is the dam of four winners from four to race, led by 14-time winner Small Town Hero and six-time winner Rockandahardplace.

Mo Town is the sire of four stakes winners and six stakes performers in 2024, his four stakes winners putting him fourth among all third crop sires by stakes winners and seventh by stakes performers.