After initial suspense over whether she would make it to the races this year, Mistery Woman has been a pleasant surprise.
A two-year-old filly trotter, Mistery Woman is 2-for-2 heading into her start Thursday in one of four Bluegrass Stakes divisions at Lexington’s Red Mile. Mistery Woman will start from post one in a field of seven and is 7-2 on the morning line, behind 9-5 favourite To Dream On and Fashion Athena, at 3-1.
Mistery Woman is owned by Misty Miller, W.J. Donovan, Michael Taranto’s Aldebaran Park Inc. and Millstream Inc., which is comprised of trainer Jonas Czernyson and his wife Christine.
“She’s done great since she’s been racing,” said driver David Miller, the husband of Misty Miller. “We got off to a slow start, but she’s done more than we were expecting right off the bat. She had a little bit of a foot problem that kind of held her up early on and she got sick on us. Nothing life threatening, but that held her up about six weeks. She just never really got going until late July where she could train every week.
“I went down the first of March and trained her in Florida and she went nice. I liked her then. Jonas kept saying all along that she was all right and he liked her. Training down she seemed liked she had some potential. We’re surprised, but we’re not surprised. We’re surprised that she’s done what she’s done this quickly. She’s come a long way in a short time.”
Mistery Woman made her debut on Sept. 13 at The Red Mile, winning a $10,000 division of the Kindergarten Classic in 1:55.4. Last week, she won the $53,150 Standardbred at the Delaware County Fair in 1:57.2, which was the season’s fastest mile by a two-year-old filly trotter on a half-mile track.
“So far she’s been a sweetheart,” Miller said. “Her first race at Lexington she was a little too aggressive and we’re not sure what caused it; we’re thinking it was being under the lights. Jonas said she’s trained down like a professional and is well-mannered. At Delaware she handled everything very well. She’s done everything you could ask of her. She’s been a real pleasure so far.”
Mistery Woman will take a step up in class in the Bluegrass, where she will meet Merrie Annabelle Stakes winner To Dream On. Trained by Jimmy Takter, To Dream On (Credit Winner-Satin Pillows) has won five of six starts this year, with her lone setback coming by a neck to Bee A Magician in 1:53.4 in the Peaceful Way Stakes on Sept. 15 at Mohawk.
Miller is very familiar with To Dream On, having driven her for much of the season.
“Jimmy’s filly is a freak,” Miller said. “I put her in the category of being probably one of the best fillies that you’re going to see in a while. I know she got beat in Canada, but that’s something that’s rarely going to happen to her. I think she’s going to be the type of horse you’re going to be hearing about for a long time.
“It’s a shame we had to get right in together right off the bat. I think our filly will give a good account of herself. I’m hoping anyway. I think she will.”
Mistery Woman is a daughter of Donato Hanover-My Dollys Dream and was purchased under the name Do Not Lindy for $102,000 at the Lexington Selected Sale. Her second dam is 1997 Breeders Crown winner My Dolly and her family also includes 2003 Breeders Crown winner Forever Starlet.
“She’s taking a big jump this week, but we’re going to have to take this step sooner or later,” Miller said. “We’re hoping she’ll have continued success and get stronger. At this point we’re very happy with her. She’s done a lot. We’re just taking it one race at a time with her.”
This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com.