Star of Mystery Shines Against Males in Quick Call

To say the $175,000 Quick Call Stakes (G3T) was a battle of the sexes might be a bit of an overstatement.

It was more like a mismatch of the sexes.

Godolphin's superb 3-year-old filly sprinter Star of Mystery , who is grade 1-placed against older males in the United States and Dubai, had little trouble handling 3-year-old males as she took charge in the stretch and drew away to a handy 1 1/2-length victory in the 5 1/2-furlong Quick Call July 14 at Saratoga Race Course.

"She's small but very tough," said Chris Connett, assistant for trainer Charlie Appleby.

That toughness was on display when Appleby entered the homebred daughter of Kodiac  in the March 30 Al Quoz Sprint (G1T) at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai against older males and she finished second by a little less than a length.

A little more than two months later, the grade 2 winner made her U.S. debut, again facing older males in the June 8 Jaipur Stakes (G1T) at the Spa, finishing third behind a North American-record performance by Cogburn  in the 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint.

After those two starts, facing 3-year-old males was a significantly easier assignment for the homebred half sister to two grade 1 winners.

"Her form in Dubai was really strong. She ran pretty close on World Cup night (in the Al Quoz) and that gives you confidence to come over here and she ran really well," said Connett. "Obviously, the horse that won broke the track record (in the Jaipur) but that showed she belongs in that kind of category. Hopefully dropping down in grade today gives her a confidence builder."

The Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T), at five furlongs at Del Mar, would seem a realistic goal for the daughter of the Shamardal  mare Mistrusting (IRE) as jockey Flavien Prat said a distance between five and six furlongs would be in her wheelhouse.

No Nay Mets  set the quick early pace of :21.16 as Prat kept Star of Mystery fifth before launching a four-wide move on the turn. As No Nay Mets faded to last in the field of seven, Gary Barber and Team Valor International's Mansa Musa  forged to the front in the stretch but could not fend off the 3-5 favorite who poked a head in front at the eighth pole.

Star of Mystery ($3.30) was timed in 1:00.97 over a course rated firm in winning for the fifth time in 11 career starts.

"When I tipped her out, she gave me a good kick. It was strong enough today," Prat said.

Mansa Musa, a son of Ten Sovereigns  trained by Bill Mott, was 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Stonestreet Stables' Fandom , a Showcasing  colt who closed from sixth in the stretch for trainer Brad Cox.

Star of Mystery is the fifth of seven foals out of Mistrusting and a half sister to grade 1 winners Althiqa and Mysterious Night . All five of her foals who have raced are winners. She also has two colts by Dubawi , a 2-year-old and a 2024 foal.