Outlook brighter for Mystic Guide's return to the races

Mystic Guide, who had to be taken out of training during December at Fair Grounds as he began gearing up for a 2022 campaign, could resume training in Kentucky within a few weeks.

Trainer Mike Stidham said Tuesday that noted veterinarian Dr. Larry Bramlage had recently delivered favorable reports to Stidham and to Mystic Guide’s owner and breeder, Godolphin, and if Mystic Guide’s trajectory remains unchanged, he could be back on the track sometime in February.

“That’s the plan,” Stidham said. “We’re going to attempt to put him back in training. He’s up at Keeneland on Rice Road with Johnny Burke in the training barn for Godolphin and the plan is to try to start him back in a few weeks.”

If Mystic Guide advances toward a comeback start with no more setbacks, he’d rejoin Stidham’s string when Stidham leaves Fair Grounds for Kentucky in March.

Mystic Guide won the Jim Dandy and was a close second in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup late in his 3-year-old season and took a further step forward early in 2021 winning the Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park before easily capturing the Dubai World Cup, a career peak for the veteran trainer Stidham.

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Mystic Guide finished second this past July 3 in the Suburban at Belmont Park, but soon after was diagnosed with a chipped knee that required surgical repair. He worked twice during December at Fair Grounds, connections still hoping for a return trip to Dubai, but with Stidham dissatisfied about how Mystic Guide was doing, the 5-year-old was sent to Kentucky. At the time, Stidham said there was no certainty Mystic Guide would continue his racing career, but now the scenario looks realistic.