BC Juv. Fillies: Mystery Girl takes a detour to New York by way of Florida

Mystery Girl would probably have been the second choice in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Oak Leaf Stakes at Santa Anita. But Christopher Paasch found a spot in which his horse could perhaps be half the price for double the purse money.

Since Mystery Girl is a daughter of the Florida-based stallion Stormy Atlantic, Mystery Girl is eligible to run in the $400,000 My Dear Girl Stakes, part of the Florida Stallion Series, at Calder on Oct. 15. Paasch said he believes it could be an easier race on Mystery Girl than a rematch with Del Mar Debutante winner Wild Fit in the Oak Leaf. If it turns out that way, Paasch would consider wheeling Mystery Girl back in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies on Oct. 29.

"As far as money goes, it's the right place to be,'' Paasch said. "It's $400,000; we will probably be 3-5 for $400,000 as opposed to 4-1 or 5-1 for $200,000. Plus, it's first time going two turns and I would like her to go two turns. In order for me to go to the Breeders' Cup with her she would have to win the right way.''

After losing her first two starts, Mystery Girl won her maiden going 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on July 23. She then came back in the Del Mar Debutante and did well to be second after contesting a hot early pace. Wild Fit came from well off the pace to get the win, making her 2 for 2. Wild Fit figures a short-priced favorite in Saturday's Oak Leaf, which is likely to include maiden winners Diamond Omi, Madre May, and Indy Miss.

The Norfolk is the only major race in the division this week. Woodbine hosts the $250,000 Mazarine Breeders' Cup on Saturday, but that race does not appear likely to produce a top-flight Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies contender. Arravale, 2 for 2 on turf, tries to duplicate that form on dirt.

Things will heat up in this division next week when Keeneland runs the Alcibiades and Belmont hosts the Grade 1, $500,000 Frizette. Among the horses pointing to the Frizette is Keeneland Kat, who is 2 for 2, including a victory in the Sorority at Monmouth Park on Sept. 3.

Keeneland Kat has simply been galloping at Monmouth Park since the Sorority, but was scheduled to ship to Belmont over the weekend and have a work toward the Frizette.

"All systems are go for the Frizette,'' said Kelly Breen, fresh off winning the Monmouth Park training title.

Original Spin, winner of the Arlington-Washington Lassie, will simply train up to the Breeders' Cup, trainer Anthony Mitchell said.

"It gives me five weeks or so,'' Mitchell said. "I've had some decent fillies before and the thing with 2-year-olds is some people over-train and over-race them. I want this filly coming in fresh and peaking at the right time. I don't feel I need another race into her. I really believe she learned a lot from the last race and she has come out like a bear.''

Mitchell said Original Spin would ship to New York from Chicago on Oct. 18 in order to get a work over the track.

Juvenile Fillies Contenders
2-year-old fillies, 1 1/16 miles. Purse: $1 million.