Mystic Karissa and driver Sam Widger captured Tuesday’s opening round of the $30,000 Indiana Gold Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies after staging a big rally in the final strides at Hoosier Park.
The three-year-old filly was able to overcome traffic trouble to score her eighth win of the season in a career-best clocking of 1:53.1. After two, fifth-place finishes in her most recent stakes outings, Mystic Karissa returned to previous form to take home top honours in the featured event of the evening.
As part of a four-horse, Ron Burke-trained entry, Mystic Karissa was unhurried out of the gate from post six and settled along the rail in eighth while Always About Katey and Mandys Mattjesty supplied the field with fractions of :26.3, :55.1 and 1:24.2.
Always About Katey tipped from the pocket to put a nose in front of the tiring leader, but she was no match for the cavalry charge that was about to ensue. Widger found late racing room in the stretch and just as he asked Mystic Karissa for more she responded with a :27.4 final quarter to best her rivals. Crazy On You was second while Always About Katey held on for third. Mystic Karissa returned $3.40 to her backers for the victory.
Sired by Always A Virgin, Mystic Karissa notched her eighth victory from sixteen seasonal outings. Unraced at two, Mystic Karissa has now earned over $70,000 in career earnings for her connections of Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino and Larry Karr.
Live racing resumes at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Wednesday, July 31 with two divisions of the $30,000 Indiana Gold Sire Stakes for three-year-old trotting colts.
(Hoosier Park)