Mystical Charger had to work a little harder in the final stages, but handled the pressure and came out with a win Wednesday, Feb. 1 at Miami Valley Raceway. Guided by Trevor Smith, the Indiana sired gelding was a winner in 1:53.3.
Mystical Charger and Trevor Smith rallied home for the win Wednesday, Feb. 1 at Miami Valley Raceway. Photo by Conrad Photography
Mystical Charger began from the center of the track and just opted to move over to the inside as Levi and Sam Widger took the early lead at the quarter in :28.1. National Sport and Justin Irvine started working their way up on the outside at the half in :56.4 to lead the outside charge but when he couldn’t gain anymore ground on the leaders, Mystical Charger moved three-wide around the final turn to continue his move to the lead.
In the stretch, Mystical Charger took over and paced home in :28.2 for the win, one length ahead of another Indiana sired gelding in Imarealroknbugatti and Trace Tetrick. Toureg Seelster and Kayne Kauffman finished third.
Mystical Charger paid $9.40 for the win. The seven-year-old gelding is trained by Jeff Smith for his wife Kathy, who owns. Mystical Marker Farms bred the veteran gelding, who won his second win of 2023.
Mystical Charger now has 17 wins overall with more than $158,000 in earnings. The Jereme’s Jet gelding took his career best time of 1:51.0 at Scioto Downs as a four-year-old. He started off his career under the direction of Mike Arnold before moving onto Ohio. Mystical Charger is a full brother to Mystical Wally, who is still racing with a mark of 1:50.3 and more than $173,000 in earnings. The family also includes Mystical Bay, another Indiana sired mare by Panspacificflight with a mark of 1:51.4 and earnings over $100,000.
Also a winner for Indiana on the night was Comaneci from the Peter Redder Stable. The six-year-old daughter of Rockin Image was a gate to wire winner for driver Dan Noble in 1:53.4. Amy L and Hank LeVan finished second over Indiana sired Big Bad Brenda and Jordan Ross, a Tellitlikeitis mare trained by Jon Anderson.
Comaneci is owned by Therl Hensley and was bred by Kelly Goodwin. The high priced claimer has 15 career wins with more than $189,000 on her card. Her career best time of 1:51.3 was taken as a four-year-old at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.