Mystery Classic out to take Nuttyboom's title

Mystery Classic is arguably the best sprinter in Texas and Oklahoma, with stakes wins in his last three starts. Saturday night, he will be out to extend his streak when he starts as the favorite in the $45,000 J.R. Straus Memorial at Retama Park near San Antonio.

The six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up drew a field of five, among them defending champ Nuttyboom.

Mystery Classic's stakes run began on July 4, with a 1 3/4-length win in the Lone Star Park Sprint, an off-the-turf race worth $50,000. Since then, he has raced twice at Remington Park, traveling from Texas to Oklahoma City to win the $50,000 Brother Brown at five furlongs on turf Aug. 5 and the $50,000 Chuck Taliaferro Memorial at six furlongs on the main track Sept. 9. He breezed three furlongs in 37.60 at his Retama base on Sept. 21.

"He's done fine," said Bob Schultz, who trains Mystery Classic for John Pierce. "You don't get too many like him. He just does anything, moves anywhere. He's just a very unique horse. He's got a lot of class about him, and we're very, very fortunate to be associated with a horse like this."

Bobby Walker Jr. has the mount on Mystery Classic, who has won 10 of 15 starts and $222,510.

Nuttyboom comes into the Straus off an optional claiming win at Louisiana Downs. Don Simington has the mount for trainer Ralph Irwin.