Into Mystic, Elle Z Renew Rivalry in Giant's Causeway

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Into Mystic, Elle Z Renew Rivalry in Giant's Causeway
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Photo: Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.
Into Mystic wins the Nelson J. Menard Memorial Stakes over Elle Z at Fair Grounds Race Course

Familiar rivals Into Mystic  and Elle Z  will face off once again April 10 in the $100,000 Giant's Causeway Stakes at Keeneland sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on the grass.

The turf sprint specialists sparred throughout the winter at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, with the Chris Hartman-trained Elle Z getting the better of her foe in two of their three meetings. In their most recent clash, the rainy New Orleans weather forced the Feb. 16 Mardi Gras Stakes off the turf and Elle Z powered home a four-length winner over Into Mystic.

Owned by M Bar O, Elle Z won an allowance race at Keeneland over the same distance of the Giant's Causeway last fall. Following that effort, the City Zip  filly proceeded to defeat Into Mystic in the Pan Zareta Stakes at Fair Grounds to cap her sophomore campaign. Into Mystic then turned the tables on Elle Z in the Jan. 9 Nelson J. Menard Memorial Stakes, with Elle Z settling for second.

Mitchell Murrill, who has been aboard Elle Z since her Keeneland allowance score, retains the mount.

The 5-year-old Into Mystic came within a nose of upsetting multiple grade 1-winning millionaire Got Stormy  in the 2020 Buffalo Trace Franklin County Stakes (G3T) over this turf course in arguably her best effort.

The Brendan Walsh trainee will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. for the first time.


Entries: Giant's Causeway S.

Keeneland, Saturday, April 10, 2021, Race 8

  • STK
  • 5 1/2f
  • Turf
  • $100,000
  • 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
  • 4:57 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Into Mystic (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 124 Brendan P. Walsh 2/1
2 2In Good Spirits (KY) Miguel Mena 122 Albert M. Stall, Jr. 6/1
3 3Elle Z (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Mitchell Murrill 124 Chris A. Hartman 7/2
4 4Dixieincandyland (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Drayden Van Dyke 122 Eddie Kenneally 12/1
5 5Fashionable Lady (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Rafael Bejarano 122 Michael Ann Ewing 50/1
6 6A Bit of Both (FL) Tyler Gaffalione 122 Michael J. Maker 8/1
7 7Karak (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate John R. Velazquez 122 Wesley A. Ward 8/1
8 8Change of Control (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Colby J. Hernandez 122 Michelle Lovell 15/1
9 9Oooh Barracuda (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate James Graham 122 Blake Kelly 50/1
10 10Jakarta (PA) Luis Saez 124 Michael J. Maker 7/2