Mystic Guide back on track, headed to either Mineshaft or Razorback

The minor illness that kept Mystic Guide from a start last weekend in the Pegasus World Cup is fully behind him as the colt worked a strong six furlongs in 1:14.20 on Friday at Fair Grounds.

Winner of the Jim Dandy Stakes and most recently second in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup in October, Mystic Guide caught a little virus percolating in the Fair Grounds equine population and didn’t post a timed workout between Dec. 15 and Jan. 15. Now, he’s gotten back on a regular work pattern and is on course to make his 4-year-old debut in February.

“He went real nice,” said Mike Stidham, who trains Mystic Guide for Godolphin. “He’s back to where he was.”

Mystic Guide has two possible spots for his first race of the season – the Mineshaft at Fair Grounds or the Razorback at Oaklawn. Those two races, however, also are under consideration for another talented Godolphin 4-year-old, Maxfield, who is based at Fair Grounds with trainer Brendan Walsh. It seems unlikely both horses would wind up in the same race.

Roadster, who recently joined Stidham’s stable in New Orleans, had a minor setback, his trainer said, and missed a work this past weekend. Plans are on hold for his next start.

Meanwhile, the race for Pixelate, another Godolphin 4-year-old, is clearer – the Muniz Memorial on March 20. Pixelate finished fifth on Saturday at Gulfstream in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf, beaten just a half-length for third and only three lengths by victorious Colonel Liam while making his first start against older horses.

“He dug in and really ran well,” Stidham said.

Stidham also has an interesting entrant on Thursday’s Fair Grounds card, Moon of Love, who is part of a full field in the sixth race, a first-level, turf-sprint allowance for fillies and mares. Moon of Love raced in Group 1 competition overseas but finished second and fifth in two 2020 starts for trainer Wesley Ward. She recently came to Stidham at Fair Grounds and “has trained really well,” he said, but Moon of Love is likely to be scratched if Thursday’s race comes off turf. Rain is forecast in New Orleans through Tuesday night and grass racing was abandoned Friday through Sunday last racing week.