Quite a show as Mystery Classic gets six in row

HOUSTON - Mystery Classic put his dazzling speed on display in last Saturday night's $50,000 Spirit of Texas at Sam Houston Race Park, when he wired the field for his sixth straight win and equaled his career-best Beyer Speed Figure, a 102.

The victory was one of the most impressive performances during the annual Texas Champions Day, a program of eight Texas-bred stakes worth $475,000.

Mystery Classic defeated older rivals in the Spirit of Texas, and was up by a length through an opening quarter-mile in 21.99 seconds. Mystery Classic proceeded to lead through a half-mile in 44.91 before covering the six furlongs in 1:09.82.

"It's a lot of fun to be around a racehorse, and he's a racehorse," said Bob Schultz, who trains Mystery Classic for his breeder, John L. Pierce II.

Schultz said plans are to move Mystery Classic back to turf, where he is also a winner, for the $75,000 Bonapaw at about 5 1/2 furlongs at Fair Grounds on Dec. 23.

Wrenice may try Oaklawn

Wrenice picked up her fifth straight win when she drove to a 5o3/4-length victory in the $50,000 Bara Lass. The filly, who is 2, could ship to Oaklawn for the $50,000 Dixie Belle on Jan. 27, said her trainer, Randy Mayfield.

The Bara Lass, run at seven furlongs, was Wrenice's fourth stakes win this year, and her first victory beyond six furlongs. She has raced exclusively in Texas.

"I thought it was an awesome race," Mayfield said of the Bara Lass. "She answered a lot of questions for me. I was looking for a big performance out of her to see if I wanted to go test the waters, you know, and she proved she deserved a chance to go somewhere now."

Mayfield said Wrenice, who is based at Sam Houston, would not race back until next year.

Rare Cure retired to pasture

Rare Cure, an 8-year-old Texas-bred gelding who won 12 races and $515,590, has been retired, said his longtime trainer, Joe Petalino. He will make his home at the Bonham, Texas, farm of his owner and breeder, Larry Dyson.

"He's got about a 10-acre pasture at their place," said Petalino.

Rare Cure won seven stakes during his career, including the 2002 running of the $100,000 Star of Texas at Sam Houston. Among other stakes wins, he captured the 2004 running of the Bob Johnson Memorial at Lone Star over odds-on favorite Pie N Burger, and the 2005 running of the Premier, also at Lone Star, over 3-5 favorite Yessirgeneralsir at 15-1.

"He kind of upset some big ones along the way," said Petalino.

Rare Cure is a son of Rare Brick out of Cure Me, by Hopeful Word. His full brother, Hadacure, was the dead-heat winner of this year's $50,000 Ellis Park Juvenile. In his most recent start, Hadacure finished fifth as the favorite in the $50,000 Groovy at Sam Houston.

Petalino said the colt was impeded at the start of the race, overstepped, and cut himself. Hadacure could turn up next at Oaklawn.

Mr. Pursuit to Maxxam Gold Cup

Mr. Pursuit, who has won his last three starts, including the $273,000 Oklahoma Derby, is headed next to Sam Houston, said Petalino. Mr. Pursuit is being pointed for the $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup here Jan. 27. The race will be run at 1o1/8 miles, the same distance over which Mr. Pursuit won the Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park.

Mr. Pursuit was unbeaten during the Remington season, and for his 3-for-3 record at the track was voted horse of the meet. In his most recent start, he overcame adversity to capture the $75,000 Governor's Cup for 3-year-olds and up at Remington on Nov. 28.

"He fell right on his ears leaving there, was out of it a little bit too far, and got through at the right time," said Petalino.

Mr. Pursuit has won 5 of 18 starts and $342,395.

Sunland possible for Open Meadows

Trainer Jack Bruner said the $50,000 Bold Ego at Sunland on Dec. 31 is a next-race possibility for Open Meadows, who picked up her fourth stakes win of the year in the $50,000 Yellow Rose at Sam Houston. If she does not go in the Bold Ego, she will race next during the Lone Star meet that opens in April, said Bruner.

Open Meadows sat just off the pace in the Yellow Rose, when she beat older rivals by a length and covered six furlongs in 1:10.75.

"She relaxed early, and I knew I had a lot of horse," said winning rider Justin Shepherd.

In the next year, Open Meadows could race around two turns more often.

"I hope to stretch her a little bit," said Bruner, who trains Open Meadows for her breeder, Tom Durant.