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Mistical Plan stages upset in Princess Rooney Handicap!
Mistical Plan of J. Paul Reddam staged an upset with a victory at the $400,000 Princess Rooney Handicap on Saturday ( July 12, 2008 ) at Calder race track.
Mistical Plan defeated even-money favorite Dream Rush in this grade I contest for fillies and mares, which is part of Calder race track's Summit of Speed program.
Under the direction of jockey Corey Nakatani for trainer Doug O'Neill, Mistical Plan ran very close to front-running Dream Rush for much of the six-furlong race. She made her move in the stretch when she slowly got the upper hand and protected her gains by drawing rapidly away from the favorite and registering a 5¾ length-win at the Calder race track extravaganza.
Miraculous Miss rallied for second place while Dream Rush was another ¼ length in third.
Fractions for the race on a fast track were :21.78 for the first quarter-mile, :44.93 for a half-mile, and 1:10.76 for six furlongs.
With her Calder Race Track triumph, Mistical Plan now automatically qualifies for the $1-million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. The Princess Rooney Handicap was a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" race.
"We were looking to break sharp, which she did, and then get some position," Nakatani said. "It worked out perfectly, and we got the trip we wanted to get. I've had success with her going both short and long, and I think sprinting is going to wind up being her best game."
Mistical Plan paid $18.20 to win. The Princess Rooney Handicap was her first 2008 victory. She hadn't won since last year's Fair Grounds Oaks in March. |
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