MISSION OF JOY (ON) is proving to be a tremendous purchase – and a great bargain – for owners RyZan Sun Racing, LLC and Madaket Stables LLC. The partners purchased the now 3-year-old daughter of Kitten’s Joy at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky’s Fall Yearling Sale in 2021 for $32,000. Today she became a graded stakes winner in just her fourth career start with a smart score in the Florida Oaks-G3 at Tampa Bay Downs.

She was coming off two consecutive wins: her maiden-breaker at Tampa on December 3, followed by an allowance win there on January 18. Antonio Gallardo was aboard for both of those wins, and he was her pilot again today. He celebrated with a skyward thank you before tossing handfuls of flowers from the garland across on her shoulders as they were led into the winner’s circle.

A full field of 12 sophomore fillies entered the gate for the 1 1/16 mile test on the grass. In winning, Mission of Joy (ON) equaled the current track record for the distance.  Florida clearly suits this girl, bred in Canada by Sam-Son Farm out of the Smart Strike mare Smart Mission.

Congratulations to her happy connections on a great win today!