Page 150 - April 2017

Oklahoma Derby-G3
MYST FIT
by John Moorehouse
Asecond-generation trainer, Trey Wood has been around horse racing for his entire life. In Myst Fit, however, Wood encountered a medical ailment he had never seen—a nasty throat infection that created a large abscess in the passage. Such a situation cast a tremendous amount of uncertainty over the racing future of the young gelding. How would he bounce back? Could he even bounce back?
“He got so short we thought he might have bled or something and that’s when we discovered everything,” Wood recalled. “It was something
I had never seen in a horse before. I guess you’d call it a super bad throat infection. He had a big abscess in his throat we had to lance off.”
“He had about a 60/40 chance of coming back and I think we fell on the 60 percent end.” Turns out, Myst Fit appears to have emerged
from his ailment better than ever. The gelding remained undefeated since returning to action, and secured his first stakes victory by taking first prize in the $251,000 Oklahoma Derby-G3 at Remington Park on March 25.
Myst Fit made his 2017 debut March 12 for the derby trials. Ending an absence of almost 12 months, he covered the 350 yards in :17.529, winning his Oklahoma Derby-G3 trial by 1/2-length and qualifying with the second fastest time. Two weeks later, the sophomore
gelding proved even quicker. He broke well from the 2-post and continued to run a close second at the next two calls before overtaking Famousist and getting to the wire first by a neck.
Ricky Ramirez was
aboard for the stakes-
winning trip, which was
completed in :17.382 for a 92
speed index. The gelding’s
owners, Bobby Simmons
and the Newman Cattle Company, banked
a $100,400 payday that improved Myst Fit’s cumulative bankroll to $117,023. Myst Fit now holds three wins in five lifetime starts.
“He’s a totally different horse,” said Wood, who first became aware of a possible problem in an allowance at Ruidoso last July, when he tired late and finished a distant sixth.
“We’ve been surrounded by a good team,” Simmons said after the race. “Trey has been wonderful since we started training with him last year. It’s hard for me because I’m pretty impatient. So, Trey’s been very good at help- ing me be patient and not do too much.”
Wood said he plans to take Myst Fit to Ruidoso next.
Dr. Steve Burns DVM bred Myst Fit and owns his dam, winner Mystifying, a lightly- raced mare who has foaled four offspring thus far. Two of those have made starts. Myst Fit becomes the first stakes winner in the brood.
Dennis and Julie Schoenhofer own runner-up Famousist (Separatist-Ought To Be Famous), who is trained by Jose Gamez and
had Mario Delgado in the irons. Wood also trains third-place finisher Miss Racy Runaway (Apollitical Jess-Dashin Vike), a huge under- dog at nearly 25-1 odds, who is owned by Terry and Irene Stennett. Edwuin Lujan was the rider.
Jess Kool Lady (Apollitical Jess-Rustys Kool Lady), Cropped Top (Corona Cartel- Tender Flyer), Bellissima Chocolata (Valiant Hero-Heartswideopen), Desert Trail (One Famous Eagle-Southernrunaway), BP
Jess Fast (Apollitical Jess-Ja Fast Lady), Tommy The Train (Freighttrain B-Okie Dokey Annie) and Teardrops At The Bar (Separatist-Eye Shine Special) completed the order of finish.
Remington Park $251,000 • 350 yards :17.382 • si 92
Chicks Beduino
Separatist
Seperate Ways
MYST FIT, ‘14-g.
Mr Jess Perry
Mystifying
Megamystery
148 SPEEDHORSE, April 2017
Myst Fit (#2) and Ricky Ramirez win the $251,000 Oklahoma Derby-G3 by a neck
RACING NEWS
Dustin Orona Photography