Dorsett looks to end skid in Mystic Lake Mile

SHAKOPEE, Minn. – The interesting shippers Dorsett and Mister Marti Gras face local forces Az Ridge and El Seventyseven in Saturday’s $100,000 Mystic Lake Mile, a turf event that attracted 11 entrants.

Dorsett, a three-length winner of Canterbury’s $200,000 Mystic Lake Derby in 2013, has gone on tour since and, although winless in his last 10 outings for trainers Michael Stidham and Brian Lynch, has performed respectably against graded-stakes rivals. Still campaigned by owner Terry Hamilton, Dorsett has joined trainer Mike Chambers here and looks primed for his stable debut.

Mister Marti Gras, a reliable closer who has earned $1,138,119 for the locally based Lothenbach Stables, is 8 now, and trainer Chris Block has targeted this race. Mister Marti Gras has been busy in the mornings at his Arlington Park base and just missed by a head in a May 25 allowance race there over yielding turf.

Az Ridge, a formidable speedster on turf, has won 4 of 5 starts for trainer Dan McFarlane this season, and his 2 1/2-length win June 6 in the Brooks Fields Stakes here was a convincing display.

El Seventyseven, an excellent turf sprinter, might benefit from chasing home Az Ridge when second in the Brooks Fields. The Mac Robertson-trained 7-year-old gelding tired late in that prep and has trained forwardly at Arlington since.

KEY CONTENDERS

Pricelesscommodity (Last 3 Beyers: 103-97-67)

Entered for the main track only, and the forecast calls for a chance of rain.

Talented sprinter would vie for favoritism if this is moved to one mile on the main track.

El Seventyseven (Last 3 Beyers: 86-93-95)

Dean Butler, the meet’s leading rider with 42 wins from 168 mounts, climbs aboard for the first time.

Dorsett (Last 3 Beyers: 87-86-79)

His new trainer, Chambers, is 36 percent in 2014-15 when he saddles a runner for the first time.

Registered a 98 Beyer Speed Figure when fourth, beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Seek Again, in last August’s Grade 2 Fourstardave at Saratoga.

Mister Marti Gras (Last 3 Beyers: 90-83-94)

Usual pilot Eduardo Perez pays a rare visit here and is 17 percent for the Block stable in 2014-15.

Az Ridge (Last 3 Beyers: 92-90-94)

Has won four races in a row under jockey Geovanni Franco, who has won with 26 percent of his mounts for McFarlane in 2014-15.

Galton (Last 3 Beyers: 89-86-85)

Former claimer makes a class hike for trainer Tom Amoss after a pair of easy wins at slightly longer distances on this course.