Mystic Lake Riding High Into Victory Ride

The speedy last-out Miss Preakness Stakes (G3) victress Mystic Lake  headlines a field of five sophomore fillies for the July 4 $175,000 Victory Ride Stakes (G3) at Belmont at the Big A.

The Victory Ride, New York's steppingstone to the lucrative Test Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course a month later, has drawn in three fillies with front-running speed but Mystic Lake will likely be the one to catch turning for home. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. for C Two Racing Stable and Stefania Farms, Mystic Lake has cruised to four gate-to-wire scores leading into Saturday's race. The Florida-bred daughter of Mo Town   has proven she can take her show on the road, capturing one-turn races at Tampa Bay Downs, Woodbine, and Pimlico Race Course.

Flavien Prat will ride the 124-pound highweight in the 6 1/2-furlong contest.

Kentucky shipper Emery  will certainly be looking to pick up the pieces late should a pace battle develop upfront. The lightly raced More Than Ready  filly exits a sharp 3 1/2-length win in the Leslie's Lady Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs June 9. The Leslie's Lady was the first stakes tally for the Brad Cox trainee following a dominant first-level allowance victory at Keeneland.

Tyler Gaffalione has the mount on Emery for Stonestreet Stables.

Emery will be joined in the race by fellow Churchill Downs-based Halina's Forte  from the barn of Phil Bauer. Harlina's Forte took the Ruthless Stakes over this oval in February. She was a recent comfortable winner of a Churchill second-level allowance May 31.

Local contenders Autumn Evening  and Golden Degree  complete the field.