Sky Mystic targets first stakes

ALBANY, Calif. - Sky Mystic has played second fiddle too long.

She will try to join two of her stablemates in the Greg Gilchrist barn as a stakes winner Saturday at Golden Gate Fields in the $75,000 Corte Madera Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at one mile.

A $400,000 purchase at the February Fasig-Tipton sale at Calder, Sky Mystic was overshadowed by Indyanne, who was a $375,000 purchase also by Gilchrist for David and Jill Heerensperger.

Sky Mystic ran third in her debut, trailing another Gilchrist trainee, High Resolve, who is undefeated in three starts and a stakes winner in the Joe O'Farrell Juvenile Fillies at Calder.

Indyanne, currently sidelined after minor ankle surgery, won both her starts - including the Bay Meadows Debutante - by a combined 16 lengths.

Sky Mystic has six rivals in the Corte Madera, including stakes-winning La Mina, who won the Hidden Light on the turf at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meet.

Locally based rivals are Christmas Ship, who graduated in her last start on the turf on Nov. 22, and Two Thirds Victory, still a maiden after running second to Sky Mystic and Christmas Ship in her last two starts.

Oh the Joy comes off a six-furlong starter allowance win after being shipped here before that Nov. 16 race.

Ice Lady, fourth in the Nov. 3 Cal Cup Juvenile Fillies after opening her career with two straight wins, and Highland Torree, fourth in the Nov. 17 Sharp Cat at Hollywood Park, round out the field.

Since losing to High Resolve, Sky Mystic graduated on the turf in her second start and scored an easy allowance victory at a mile on Nov. 21 in her last start.

"There's a lot to like about her," Gilchrist said. "She'll run on just about any surface, and you can't write a race too far for her. She hasn't beared down and run her best race so far."

Gilchrist knew Sky Mystic had no chance against High Resolve in her debut. While she ran well in her second start at 7 1/2 furlongs on the turf, she ran even better going one mile in her third start, overcoming traffic problems on the second turn to beat Lady Railrider by 6 1/2 lengths.

Gilchrist likes her style.

"She can relax a whole lot in the early part, and she saves plenty for the finish," he said.

It's far too early to think of races such as the Kentucky Oaks, but a little step forward in the Corte Madera could fan such dreams.

"If you make little steps, you can move way up," Gilchrist said. "A race like Saturday's could be a great step in pursuing a dream of races like that. If she wins Saturday, we'd look around the country for a Grade 3 at a mile or over."