Mystic River shocker in OSS Gold final

Mystic River chose an auspicious occasion to break her maiden as she captured Mohawk’s first Ontario Sire Stakes $130,000(C) Gold final of the season, for 3-year-old trotting fillies.

Sent off at 30-1, Mystic River and linesman Jody Jamieson bided their time in the back of the field, while Chris Christoforou and Butana emerged from the starting scrimmage to set the early fractions. Randy Waples tucked Mets Inn into the pocket spot, with Steve Condren and Cuddler third, but by the first-quarter marker in :27.3 Cuddler angled out to overtake, and Butana spun into a gallop to take herself out of the action. The field stepped through the half in :57.2 before Daylon Mystique, with trainer Wayne Henry in the bike, rolled up to seize the lead and promptly opened up a two-length lead, with Waples and Mets Inn settling into second.

As the fillies entered the stretch, it was still Daylon Mystique trail-blazing, with Mets Inn fighting off a lukewarm challenge from favoured Cumin First (Rick Zeron). But in the final eighth of a mile, fillies were suddenly six wide across the track, all vying for the lead, with 30-1 shot Mystic River surging to a three-quarter length victory in 1:57.3 over the out-of-nowhere SOS Respect (Sylvain Filion) and Magic Sassy (Luc Ouellette). Mets Inn was fourth.

"She finished off last year with a 1:57 qualifier and she was good her first start here last week," said trainer Kevin O’Reilly of his winning filly. "She just got sick a couple of times last year at the wrong time. Now she’s a year older, she’s a bit stronger and healthier, and she does want to do it.

"I think she can be very handy here in the Ontario Sires Stakes," he added. "She’s got the desire to do it. We’ll see what happens. She’s staked out pretty good, but we’ll take it race by race."

Mystic River is a daughter of Kadabra, out of the Malabar Man mare, Celebrity Belle. This was her first win in eight lifetime starts for owners Chris Ryder, Deena Rachel Frost, and Max Wernick. (WEG)

« Back