Mystic Guide at Keeneland Prepping for Summer Campaign

As the 2022 edition of the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) approaches March 26, the winner of last year's race, Godolphin's Mystic Guide , is at Keeneland preparing for a summer campaign.

Trainer Michael Stidham said the homebred son of Ghostzapper   is galloping in Lexington under the care of trainer Johnny Burke and will return to Stidham's care in a few weeks when the trainer arrives at the Kentucky racetrack for its spring meet.

After year-ending surgery to remove bone chips following a second-place finish in the July 7 Suburban Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park, the $7.5 million earner put in two works at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in December before he was pulled out of training again.

"Mystic Guide is doing well," Stidham said. "We started him back but had to pause because we weren't quite pleased with how he came out of those first few works. So we sent him back to Kentucky, let Dr. (Larry) Bramlage (at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital) do a thorough check of him and he said he needed a little more time."

Stidham estimated it will take two or three months to get Mystic Guide ready for a race. Barring a reoccurrence of interrupted training, such timing could leave the 5-year-old  positioned to pursue races at Saratoga Race Course such as the Aug. 6 Whitney Stakes (G1) or the Sept. 3 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1).