It was quite a night for young trainer Maggie Audley on Monday night (November 6), as Gold Star Mysti, a graduate of the Florida stakes program over the past two seasons, earned her ‘Summa Cum Laude’ honours as a four-year-old at Pompano Park with a thrilling 1:52.4 win for her 23-year-old driver, James Yoder.
And less than a half hour later, the Audley-Yoder combo teamed up again for a win with Gator Boy – his first win in almost four years.
Gold Star Mysti, a daughter of Mysticism, earned the closest of decisions over the late-charging A Wish For Wings, driven by Rick Plano. The margin of victory was a scant nose. The pocket-sitting Sterling Electra, with John MacDonald in the bike, finished third, two lengths back. Goldstar Rockette was fourth after having emerged with the lead at the opening marker in :27 before having taken the field through subsequent fractions of :56.1 and 1:24.1.
Mysti, who left from Post 9, was hustled away from the gate along with several others and settled in mid-pack around the opening turn. On the backside, she rushed up first over, engaged Goldstar Rockette in battle around the final bend, took command straightening away for home, and just held on.
Trainer Maggie Audley was ecstatic with ‘Mysti's win, remarking, "It was her first start here off of a qualifier and I didn't know what to expect since she hadn't seen pari-mutuel competition since September. I was really pleased with her performance but it sure was a close one.
"I told Edgar (trainer Clarke of A Wish For Wings) that I was lucky that his mare didn't sneeze at the wire!"
As the 2-1 favourite, Gold Star Mysti paid $6.00 to win.
Roughly 16 minutes later, the six-year-old Gator Boy went behind the starting gate in a non-winners of two pari-mutuel races event and roared by his competition in deep stretch to score in 1:55.2 for his first win since December 4, 2013 at Balmoral Park.
The gelded son of Duneside Perch, who is trained by Maggie for Dale Witcher II of Tatum, Texas, left with a bit of alacrity. Driver Yoder searched for a decent spot, found one in fourth as the early fractions were hot -- :28.2 and :56.4 -- and then sat chilly past the third station in 1:25.4. He then fanned widest of all in the lane for the win which measured one and a quarter lengths over Bro Hanover (driven by Mickey McNichol). Danza (Ray Vizzi) finished third after having loomed boldly turning for home.
Come On Red was fourth while the 2-5 favourite, Decent Sawyer, finished fifth.
The clocking was a new lifetime mark for Gator Boy. Trainer Maggie Audley said, "We met Mr. Witcher (owner) when he bought a broodmare from us out of the Delaware sale the February after dad (Tom) passed.
"We kept in contact and, in conversation, we learned about Gator Boy, who was a large two-year-old that had a lot of heart and tried hard, but had a lot of soreness issues.
"Instead of pushing him as a three-year-old, Mr. Witcher decided to bring him back home to Texas, fatten him up and work on his soreness issues.
"In order to earn his keep, Gator Boy started racing on the 'under saddle' circuit in Texas and Louisiana where they race under saddle with hobbles on a quarter-mile straightaway – usually only two at a time.
"Earlier this year, Mr. Witcher thought that Gator Boy deserved another chance, so, about five months ago, he brought Gator Boy to us and he came along well so we decided that he was worth the investment to get him back to the races.
"He hadn't won in several years (almost four) and he's still learning how to get around the turns, but he has a great attitude and he is happy doing his job."
Gator Boy's mark, prior to his Monday night win, was in a Springfield qualifier as a two-year-old – 1:56.2
Gator Boy was 7-2 on the morning line, but he went off as the 8-1 third choice and returned $18.00 to his faithful.
Trainer Maggie Audley, by the way, whose stable consists of mostly Florida-bred stakes horses, now has a .481 UTR. Her average was over .500 in 2016.
As she says, "I learned by lessons well because my dad taught me well!"
Racing will continue at Pompano Park on Tuesday night with over $100,000 up for grabs as the FSBOA Stallion Stakes continues.
Post time is 7:20 p.m.
(Pompano Park)