Golden Mystery makes her first appearance since she was purchased at auction last month in the $150,000 Inside Information Stakes (gr. II) March 17 at Gulfstream Park.
Now owned by Nat Rea’s Regis Farm, who bought the 7-year-old Awesome Again mare for $625,000 out of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky winter mixed sale Feb. 11, Golden Mystery recently returned to the barn of trainer Marty Wolfson.
Golden Mystery, a veteran of 38 career starts, undoubtedly enhanced her value with an outstanding Gulfstream meet for Wolfson. She is coming off a pair of impressive stakes victories for previous owner Farnsworth Farms, most recently capturing the Hurricane Bertie (gr. III) a day before her sale by 3 1/2 lengths under a strong hand ride by Luis Saez.
Javier Castellano will be aboard Golden Mystery in the Inside Information. The chestnut mare will face nine opponents in the seven-furlong test for older fillies and mares. The St. Patrick's Day feature, the only graded stakes in North America Sunday, is the 10th on Gulfstream's card with a 5:35 p.m. EDT scheduled post.
Golden Mystery, who could return in the $300,000 Humana Distaff (gr. I) at Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 4, has banked $540,223 while winning nine times in her lengthy career. She has been especially effective at Gulfstream where she has compiled a 5-3-2 mark in 13 outings, including a 5 1/4-length triumph in the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Sprint on a sloppy track Jan. 19.
"This race is at seven-eighths, which I think is her best distance. We've talked about possibly running her in the Humana Distaff at Churchill on Derby Day, which is also at seven-eighths, but nothing beyond that," said Wolfson.
She'll break from from post 8 in the Inside Information as the 121-pound highweight.
Golden Mystery is one of four entrants from Wolfson, who would also saddle Spectacular Sky, Nakano, and Starship Truffles in the Inside Information. They will race as separate betting interests.
"I'll probably run three," said Wolfson, who has had a solid meet this season with 14 wins and 12 seconds from 53 starts. "Spectacular Sky will be in front. Golden Mystery comes from off the pace and Nakano comes from even farther back, so I don't think they will get in each other's way.
"Starship Truffles is the one I might hold out and possibly run her in the Rampart," he added. The $150,000 Rampart Stakes (gr. III) at 1 1/8 miles will be run March 30 as part of the Florida Derby (gr. I) program.
Starship Truffles, owned by Chasing Tails Stables, has won five races in a row and nine of her past 11. The 4-year-old Ghostzapper filly would be making her graded stakes debut with Corey Lanerie aboard from the far outside post.
Spectacular Sky, who drew the rail with Joel Rosario to ride, won her seasonal debut in the Manatee Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 9 for Farnsworth Stables. She is making her first start at Gulfstream.
Thoroughbred Futures Racing's Nakano was third last time in the Hurricane Bertie, five lengths behind Golden Mystery. John Velazquez has the call and they break from post 7.
Also coming out of the Hurrican Bertie are Catch a Thief and grade I winner Emma's Encore, fourth and fifth, respectively.
Prize Informant won an allowance/optional claiming race at seven furlongs handily Jan. 20 and steps up for trainer David Brownlee. Aubby K, Burban, and Ice Cream Silence will be making their seasonal bows.
Ice Cream Silence, trained by Rusty Arnold for G. Watts Humphrey Jr., is a 4-year-old Street Sense filly that makes her first start since a runner-up effort in the Iowa Oaks (gr. III) at Prairie Meadows June 30. That followed a three-race win streak that began at Gulfstream a year ago when she broke her maiden by 4 1/2 lengths going seven furlongs in her third career start.
"I've had her ready to run for about three weeks, but couldn't get a race to go for her," said Arnold. "I entered her in races from six furlongs to a mile-and-and-a-sixteenth. I really didn't want to start her out in a graded stakes off that kind of layoff, but that's the way it has worked out. She's doing good."
$150,000 Inside Information Stakes (gr. II, Race 10, 5:35 p.m.), Fillies & Mares 4 & Up, 7 Furlongs
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Spectacular Sky (KY), J Rosario, 119, M D Wolfson
2. Prize Informant (FL), E J Zayas, 117, D R Brownlee
3. Aubby K (KY), E S Prado, 117, R E Nicks
4. Ice Cream Silence (KY), J L Castanon, 117, G R Arnold II
5. Burban (KY), J Bravo, 117, E Kenneally
6. Emma's Encore (FL), J Rocco Jr., 117, H A Jerkens
7. Nakano (KY), J R Velazquez, 117, M D Wolfson
8. Golden Mystery (FL), J Castellano, 121, M D Wolfson
9. Catch a Thief (MD), A Garcia, 117, T A Hills
10. Starship Truffles (KY), C J Lanerie, 117, M D Wolfson
