Appleby’s Star of Mystery Making U.S. Debut in Matron

Renowned trainer Charlie Appleby will try to continue his North American success Oct. 8 in the $150,000 Matron Stakes (G3T) at Belmont at the Big A.

His reputation around the world needs no explanation, but he continues to make inroads in the United States. This year hasn’t brought the same level of success that he’s had in the U.S. in 2022 and 2021, but there’s still plenty of time to make up ground.

Appleby has had nearly as many starters this year (15) as the last two (17 in 2022 and 18 in 2021) but the win percentage is significantly lower. At 27% this year, his runners are crossing the wire 20% less often than a year ago. So far, his trainees have posted a 4-2-4 mark from 15 races this year. Meanwhile, his trainees were 8-4-2 from 17 and 9-3-1 from 18 in 2022 and 2021, respectively.

He’ll turn to Star of Mystery in Sunday’s six-furlong contest. The Godolphin homebred will be making her North American debut following a sixth-place finish in the Lowther Stakes (G2) at York. Prior to that, the 2-year-old daughter of Kodiac had two firsts and two seconds in her four other starts.

Amidst Waves , winner of three straight that figured to be top competition for Star of Mystery, will scratch out of the Matron and instead ship down to Keeneland for the Indian Summer Stakes on the same day according to trainer George Weaver.

“She’s put together a nice resume so far and both the Matron and the race at Keeneland are logical spots for her,” Weaver said. “The Matron was our first choice, but Mother Nature might intervene.”

Entries: Matron S. (G3T)

Belmont at the Big A, Sunday, October 08, 2023, Race 8

Grade III
6f
Outer turf
$150,000
2 yo Fillies
4:22 PM (local)

LOOK TO THE FUTURE

New Jersey-bred Book’em Danno tries to stay perfect in the Futurity Stakes (G3T).

However, after winning twice on dirt including the Smoke Glacken Stakes, the son of Bucchero will move to the turf.

“He won that stakes pretty comfortable and he’s going to move up off of that,” trainer Derek Ryan said of Book’em Danno’s Smoke Glacken win. “The more racing we get under him, the better he’s going to get.”

Should he win the Futurity, he will have earned an automatic berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) at Santa Anita Park Nov. 3.

The change in surface doesn’t concern Ryan.

“He’s got a lot of turf pedigree by Bucchero and out of a Ghostzapper mare. There’s a lot of turf in his family,” he said.

Also in the field is Apollo Ten . The son of Violence broke his maiden on this course and distance his last time out, his second career start. He is trained by Christophe Clement.

Meanwhile, Where’s Chris broke his maiden on first asking and aims to stay perfect.