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Mistical Plan crowned in Princess Rooney

Mistical had a winning Plan for the Princess Rooney (Jim Lisa Photos) J. Paul Reddam's MISTICAL PLAN (Game Plan) lead for much of Saturday's $400,000 Princess Rooney H. (G1) at Calder before drawing off in the stretch to post an easy 5 3/4-length victory under jockey Corey Nakatani, who flew in from California for the ride. Dream Rush (Wild Rush) moved to the front when the gates opened, setting a quick opening split of :21 3/5 while just a half-length in front of Mistical Plan, who was running three wide. That one took over through a half in :44 4/5 and maintained a half-length advantage over Dream Rush when posting five furlongs in :57 2/5. Dream Rush began losing ground in late stretch while Miraculous Miss (Mr. Greeley), who had raced in last down the backside, moved up into fourth. Miraculous Miss was the only one making up any ground in the lane, but she could never catch Mistical Plan, who had easily drawn off to finish six furlongs on the fast dirt in 1:10 3/5. "We were looking to break sharp, which she did, and then get some position," Nakatani said explaining his tactics. "It worked out perfectly and we got the trip we wanted to get. I've had success with her going both short and long and I think sprinting is going to wind up being her best game."

Mistical Plan gave back $18.20, $9.40 and $4.20 as the 8-1 fifth pick in the seven-horse field, while Miraculous Miss paid $4.80 and $2.80 as the near 5-1 third choice for getting her head in front of Dream Rush on the wire. Sent off the even-money favorite, Dream Rush was worth $2.10, and the exotics returned $111 (exacta), $323 (trifecta) and $1,390 (2-5-4-1 superfecta). Dixie Dreamer (Mutakddim) inherited fourth, and next came Looky Yonder (Johannesburg), Rgirldoesn'tbluff (Pine Bluff) and Bereba (Exchange Rate).

Mistical Plan was on the Kentucky Oaks (G1) trail last year, running fifth in that event following scores in the Sunshine Millions Oaks and Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) earlier in the season. She also captured the Cover Gal S. and ran second in the Pocahontas S. (G3) as a juvenile. Prior to this one, the Doug O'Neill trainee set the pace before being caught in the stretch and finishing third in the Ogden Phipps H. (G1) to champion Ginger Punch (Awesome Again). With this victory, she improved her mark to 14-5-1-2 and has now banked $789,290 in earnings.

"Mr. Reddam and I have always been real high on this filly, but I think she exceeded our expectations today," O'Neill said. "She has displayed enough talent and has shown excellence in routes and sprints. I think the game plan will be to stay with the sprints now."

By virtue of winning the Princess Rooney, Mistical Plan has now earned an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint on October 24 at Santa Anita. O'Neill said she would stay in the east for one more race, which could possibly come in Saratoga's Ballerina S. (G1) on August 24, then head back to the West Coast.

Bred in California by Carol Anderson, Mistical Plan is the only stakes performer out of the winning Mistical Bel (Bel Bolide), who also has an unraced juvenile colt named Really Surprised (For Really) and an unnamed 2008 filly by Game Plan. This is the same family as Grade 1 victress Private Persuasion (Pirate's Bounty), Grade 2 hero Windsor Castle (Lord Carson) and Sierra Sunset (Bertrando), who was last seen taking the Rebel S. (G2) earlier this season.

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