Mythical tests stamina in Spinaway

The two-year-old filly Mythical has led gate-to-wire in all three of her starts to date, winning by a combined margin of 15 1/4 lengths. Whether she can stretch her speed to seven furlongs will be a question answered in the $300,000 Spinaway (G1) at Saratoga.

The Spinaway, which offers an expenses-paid berth to the 1 1/16-mile Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Del Mar on Oct. 31, highlights the final Saturday card of the 2025 Saratoga meet.

Although Mythical has comfortably won a pair of stakes already, the Tremont S. against males and the Adirondack (G3), both were at the expense of only four rivals. The Spinaway has attracted a field of 10, a number of whom have strong claims.

Still, trainer Jorge Delgado believes Mythical will be tough to run down.

"She loves to run, and she does not want to get passed," Delgado said. "Whoever wants to go with her, they're welcome, but I don't think it's the best idea.

"In the gallop out of the Adirondack, she kept opening up lengths and she kept going easy."

Percy's Bar has also been untouchable, winning both starts in Kentucky by a combined nine lengths. The latter was a five-length triumph in the Debutante S. at Churchill Downs in late June.

Todd Pletcher, tied with his late mentor D. Wayne Lukas for most Spinaway wins with six, will saddle Tommy Jo, a daughter of Into Mischief who won on debut by 3 3/4 lengths on July 26. She is joined by maiden stablemate Steer Clear, who finished second to Ornellaia in an Aug. 2 maiden. A $1.1 million daughter of Girvin, Ornellaia, rallied well to win by more than two lengths for Chad Brown.

Re-opposing Mythical is Adirondack runner-up Meringue, while Saffie Joseph trains the debut-winning duo of Rileytole and Spirit Doll.

Be Your Best, winner of the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G2) and Gamely (G1) earlier this year, heads the $500,000 Flower Bowl (G2), a 1 3/8-mile test over the same distance as the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), for which it serves as a Breeders' Cup Challenge prep.

Be Your Best won the 11-furlong Long Island (G3) last fall, but her natural speed has been more conducive to shorter races this term. Her latest outing was a fading third-place effort in the 1 3/16-mile Beverly D. (G2) at Colonial Downs.

The Miguel Clement-trained pair of Bellezza and La Mehana, respective heroines of the Sheepshead Bay (G3) and Glens Falls (G2), appear the most serious challengers.