Big price paid for freshman pacer Mysticism

Mysticism, the 2-year-old colt pacer who romped to a 1:53.4 win in a qualifier last Friday morning at Pompano Park, has been sold for a price believed to be near a quarter-million dollars and will now be trained by the 2007 Trainer of the Year Steve Elliott.

A son of Dragon Again, Mysticism was co-owned by Mary Elizabeth Caputo and breeder Patricia Ross. With trainer-driver Walter Ross in the sulky in Friday’s qualifier, Mysticism paced away from older horses to win by 33 lengths, an effort that followed up a 1:57.2 qualifying win on May 30.

Following Friday’s qualifier, the colt was purchased by Paul Bordogna, Ken Klein, Old Brook Stable and trainer Steve Elliott.

“I went down to Florida last week and trained the horse,” said Elliott, who would not confirm any exact purchase price. “Red (Walter) Ross is a great horseman. He told me he had a good horse and he was right, this is a very good horse.”

“It is kind of sad in a way,” said Patricia Ross, who owned and raced Mysticism’s dam, Imawesternlady, a winner of more than $100,000 and a mark of 1:54.1f. “Sometimes in this business it seems like you are living just day to day. He is an outstanding colt and I will miss him. But we could not pass up this offer from some serious horse owners.”

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