Another Mystery back on short rest for Black Tie Affair
Not only is there a Friday stakes race at Hawthorne Race Course, it’s not a bad one.
The $75,000 Black Tie Affair for older Illinois-breds over one mile on turf drew seven entrants, including graded stakes winner Another Mystery. Another Mystery endured a troubled trip finishing 10th, beaten less than four lengths, in the Grade 3 Louisville on May 21 at Churchill Downs. Trainer Chris Block, who also entered Ioya Again, said he intends to run Another Mystery on Friday despite the relatively short break between starts.
“The idea was to enter and see how he trained. He seems to be fine. I’m more concerned about the distance than the time between races,” said Block, who trains Another Mystery for Team Block, his family’s ownership group. “We’re not going to run him again until late July at Colonial, anyway.”
Another Mystery won the Grade 3 John Connally over 1 1/2 miles this past January at Sam Houston.
Ioya Again, 6-year-old Another Mystery’s 7-year-old half-brother (both were produced by the Block’s mare, Ioya Two), has a much lower peak performance level than Another Mystery but better suits the Black Tie Affair’s shorter distance and has won three times from his four Hawthorne grass starts.
“I think he’s going to run big,” Block said.
Eight-year-old Blue Sky Kowboy finished a close second in the $100,000 Hawthorne Derby way back in 2017. His most recent race came March 9 at Tampa Bay Downs, where he was third in a race won by the sharp turf horse Chez Pierre.
Richiesgotgame, one of two entered by trainer Larry Rivelli, historically excelled on the Polytrack at shuttered Arlington International. Rivelli’s second entrant, Valiant Vinny, should battle for the lead with Temper Tantrum. Ioya Again can get first run on deeper closers Blue Sky Kowboy an Another Mystery and post a mild upset under Jose Lopez.
Post time for the Black Tie Affair, race 8, is 5:45 p.m. Central. You can catch all the Hawthorne action at DRFBets.com.