Allowance winners Stellar Sound, Lady Mystify target stakes
Stellar Sound and Lady Mystify each returned from a lengthy layoff to win an allowance race on Thursday at Del Mar. Both will run in a stakes later in August.
Stellar Sound, third in three stakes in 2019 and 2020, caught 7-5 favorite Scotish Star in the final strides to win a six-furlong allowance race for fillies and mares on Thursday. A 4-year-old filly by Tapit, Stellar Sound, who paid $8.80, had not raced since a third in the Grade 3 Bayakoa Stakes at Los Alamitos last December.
“I thought it was quite a comeback,” trainer Michael McCarthy said.
Owned by Don Alberto Stable, Stellar Sound will be considered for the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Stakes for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 20 or the restricted Tranquility Lake at 1 1/16 miles on Aug. 27.
Scotish Star was beaten for the first time in her third start. A Group 1 winner in Argentina last October, Scotish Star had her American debut Thursday.
Lady Mystify is a 3-year-old by Bernardini, the champion 3-year-old male of 2006 who was euthanized after a bout with laminitis, Darley Stud announced Friday.
Lady Mystify, trained by Peter Eurton, won a maiden special weight race at a mile by 18 lengths on Feb. 5 at Santa Anita, but emerged from the race with an ankle injury. In an allowance race at a mile on Thursday, Lady Mystify led throughout as the 9-5 favorite, prevailing by a length.
“She came back and looked good,” Eurton said.
Lady Mystify will be considered for the Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks, a $400,000 race at seven furlongs around two turns on Aug. 27.
“Getting a horse there is always a big task,” Eurton said.
The Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on Aug. 21 at Del Mar is another option.
Owned by Exline-Border Racing, SAF Racing, and Richard Hausman, Lady Mystify was given a 90-day rest after the February win.
“We took the conservative route,” Eurton said. “She looks good now and she’s put on some weight.”