My Bariley seeking repeat in Mystic Lake Mile

The longer you look at the race, the more it appears My Bariley can win the $100,000 Mystic Lake Mile for the second year in a row.

My Bariley scored a 16-1 upset in the 2018 renewal of this one-mile turf race at Canterbury Park, and the overall appearance of his form suggests he can capture this race again. My Bariley is listed at 10-1 on the track’s morning line but figures to go off a shorter price than that. He’s drawn in post 13 but seems likely to move in a few stalls since several horses – including main-track-only entrant Malibu Max – appear to be in this race hoping for a rain-off onto the main track.

Rain has kept My Bariley from racing since he finished seventh Feb. 9 while facing considerably stronger competition in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes. My Bariley finished seventh in the Tampa Bay but was beaten only two lengths by the victorious Inspector Lynley.

“We couldn’t get a prep race because everywhere we tried to enter, it rained,” said trainer Tony Granitz. “He came out of the Tampa race real good, and we’ve trained him forward for this. I think a few will scratch and we can move in a couple places.”

Ibaka is the 7-2 morning-line favorite for the Mystic Lake Mile but seems very unlikely to be a price that low. Ibaka won his most recent start May 31 at Canterbury, but was entered for a $25,000 claiming tag in that turf race.

My Bariley’s main competition could come from Space Mountain, who rallied furiously to win a $50,000 turf claiming race May 24 at Churchill Downs. Mike Maker trains Space Mountain, who was claimed for $62,500 earlier this year, and the prospect of a wet turf course won’t phase Space Mountain’s connections since the horse won over soft and yielding courses last year.

Spooky Channel enters on a five-race winning streak, but his highest-level victories in the skein were $30,000 stakes races at Turf Paradise. The 7-year-old Majestic Pride finished third in this race a year ago and is very likely to improve off a sprint allowance race, his first start of the year, May 27 at Canterbury.

Supreme Aura has much more experience around one turn than two but is fast enough to contend on either turf or dirt. Underpressure, Malibu Max, Han Sense, and California Night all could be key players should the race get rained onto dirt.

Lady Canterbury wide open

It’s a glass half-empty or half-full thing, this Lady Canterbury Stakes. Depending on your orientation, either none of the eight entrants or all of them look capable of winning.

Lovely Loyree is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the turf mile, but she is an 8-year-old who hasn’t started since October. She was a troubled fourth in this race a year ago and would be a bad bet at anything close to as short as her listed price.

Goodyearforroses has faced the strongest competition and drops in class from the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley in April. But earlier this season she raced for the first time since 2017, and after a fourth in the Grade 3 Endeavour at Tampa Bay, she hasn’t shown much zeal for racing.

Love On Tides, who took a tough beat in an open $50,000 claimer at Churchill last out, and Kool Kate, who comes out of starter-allowance races, ought to be overmatched at this level but don’t appear to be. Beach Flower’s one contending turf race came over 1 1/2 miles, while Susie Bee, fifth in the 2018 Lady Canterbury, will take betting that she doesn’t merit because Maker trains her.

That leaves the one-three finishers from a recent Canterbury allowance race, Remember Daisy and Dontmesswithjoanne – both Louisiana-breds – and Remember Daisy is the pick to win this race.

Remember Daisy, a winner in six of 10 career starts, typically races from a stalking position, but rallied late after racing eight lengths behind the pacesetting Dontmesswithjoanne to win that 7 1/2-furlong turf allowance race June 1.

“She can be a little rank early on, but I like the outside post, and wherever she can relax in the race is fine,” said trainer Gary Scherer.

Chief Cicatriz in Dark Star

Chief Cicatriz returned to his strong 2018 form when he just missed winning the Skinner Memorial on May 25 at Prairie Meadows, and anything close to that performance should put him in the winner’s circle after the $50,000 Dark Star Cup.

Chief Cicatriz won the Aristides Stakes last June with a head-turning 110 Beyer Speed Figure, but didn’t start again until March. His first two races this year were subpar, but he got back to form in the Skinner and has since logged two Canterbury works for trainer Shawn Davis, who also entered Creative Art, the winner of this race a year ago.

◗ Hotshot Anna would be favored to win the $50,000 Hoist Her Flag if she ships from Arlington, but owner-trainer Hugh Robertson could keep the mare home to start next weekend in the Chicago Handicap. Robertson said he’d decide Friday whether to ship or stay put. Hotshot Anna would race for Robertson’s son Mac if she starts in the Hoist Her Flag. Another Chicago horse, the Illinois-bred Puntsville, won this race a year ago but faces a taller task Saturday.