Another Mystery edges Pixelate in Bob Wright Memorial

The Illinois crowd had themselves a day Saturday in New Orleans.

Another Mystery, an Illinois homebred owned by Team Block, trained by Illinoisan Chris Block and ridden by Jareth Loveberry, leading rider at Arlington the last two seasons, got up by a head over even-money favorite Pixelate to win the $75,000 Bob Wright Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds.

Pixelate got a great trip under Angel Suarez, saving ground while drafting behind pacesetting Forty Under through tepid turf-route splits of 24.88, 49.40, and 1:14.03. Suarez tipped out his mount at the quarter pole and Pixelate drew alongside Forty Under, who had something left and fought to the furlong grounds before giving way.

Meanwhile, Loveberry, who is hanging his tack at Fair Grounds for the first time, had followed Pixelate’s every move, and as the favorite switched back to his wrong lead at the sixteenth pole, failing to finish the job, Another Mystery surged and nipped Pixelate at the wire.

:: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances – the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures.

Monarchs Glen rallied solidly from the rear of the field to finish third as Another Mystery, who paid $23.60, clocked 1:45.67 for about 1 1/16 miles (the temporary turf rail was set at seven feet) over firm going.

Five-year-old Another Mystery, by Temple City, has deep roots in the Team Block operation, started decades ago by Chris Block’s father, David Block. Another Mystery is the fifth stakes winner produced by the mare Ioya Two, who also foaled Amazing Results, who won two stakes over the Fair Grounds grass course early in 2008.

Another Mystery’s second dam is Ioya, winner of the Grade 3 Modesty and the dam of Mystery Giver, one of the Blocks’ best racehorses. Mystery Giver excelled on the Fair Grounds turf, where he won the Fair Grounds Breeders’ Cup Handicap three times and landed the Grade 2 Mervin Muniz Handicap in 2004.