Debuting Winners Fiora, Mystic Ride Named Hot Prospects

This column highlights the performances of 2- and 3-year-old maidens (the latter category only through June) with the potential for graded stakes success based on criteria such as a horse that has made no more than five starts and either sold for more than $500,000 at public auction, has siblings that are graded/group winners, or has dams that are graded/group winners. BloodHorse research shows maiden winners who meet these criteria are more likely to go on to be graded stakes winners. 

Pricey juveniles Fiora and Mystic Ride are BloodHorse Maiden Watch Hot Prospects after maiden victories on debut.

Fiora Runs True to Her Pedigree

Fiora, debuting in a 6 1/2-furlong turf contest in the third race on opening day of the fall meet at a reopened Belmont Park, showed the promise expected from the Into Mischief  filly after she was acquired for $625,000 as a yearling. She rated in third for the opening quarter, advanced into second on the turn, and took command in the stretch before crossing the wire a half-length in front. She completed the distance on firm turf in 1:14.51 under Ricardo Santana Jr. A final sixteenth of a mile timed in :05.80 allowed her to repel late bids from runner-up Blazing Beauty and third-place Inflect, two other first-time starters.

The victorious bay filly earned an 87 Equibase Speed Figure and a 70 Beyer Speed Figure.

Trainer Phillip Antonacci told New York Racing Association publicity before her debut that she'd shown ability and has the potential to run longer distances.

"I think she'll eventually be a mile, mile-and-a-sixteenth type filly," he said.

Lindy Farms, AC Crawford Farms and Westfield Stables own Fiora after acquiring her from the Lane's End consignment to Fasig-Tipton's The Saratoga Sale in Upstate New York in 2025. 

Bred by Susan Bunning and Mr. Brilliant Farm & Ranch, she is out of the Tapit  mare Ivyetsu, who showed in the 2020 Sweetest Chant Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park in her top stakes performance. Ivyetsu showed versatility by breaking her maiden on dirt at Churchill Downs in a race taken off the grass.

Fiora is the second foal to race out of Ivyetsu. The first, Ironclad (More Than Ready), finished third on debut at Colonial Downs in 2025 and returns in a Sept. 25 maiden race at Belmont Park.

Video: Race 3 (MSW) at BEL on 9/18/26

Mystic Ride Cruises in Southern California

Also on Friday, Mystic Ride delivered a front-running 4 1/4-length victory in the opener at Los Alamitos Race Course.

His commanding margin of victory seemed partly due to the modest ability of those behind him. The two prior starters in the field had been well beaten in their earlier outings, and Mystic Ride won with authority, with fellow first-timer starter Magic Wave chasing him in vain throughout. The winner raced 6 furlongs in 1:10.64 beneath Ricky Gonzalez following splits of :22.38 and :46.16. The chestnut colt ran an 86 Equibase Speed Figure and a 67 Beyer Speed Figure.

The Bob Baffert-trained Mystic Ride is from the first crop of Darley stallion Mystic Guide , who won the 2021 Dubai World Cup (G1) over 1 1/4 miles.

Owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman bought Mystic Ride for $425,000 from the Hunter Valley Farm consignment to the 2025 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. His sale made him the highest-priced Mystic Guide yearling sold at auction.

Bonnie Heath Farm bred him out of the Honor Glide mare Dream Ride. He is one of five winners from six starters from his dam, whose top performer is a $769,765 earner and grade 2 winner, St. Joe Bay (St. Anddan), who won three graded stakes in California from 2016-19, while most effective in sprints.

Video: Race 1 (MSW) at LRC on 9/18/26