Aztec Brave, taken for $30,000 in October 2014 out of a Keeneland conditioned claimer, looked like a good claim when he returned the next month to win a first-level allowance race at Fair Grounds. Twenty months later, good has turned into great. Since being claimed by owner Brad Grady and trainer Joe Sharp, Aztec Brave has made 10 turf starts – most in listed or Grade 3 stakes – and compiled a record of 4-3-3, which, for the mathematically disinclined, means he always fires. And if Aztec Brave fires one of his better shots, he can end a little four-race losing streak in the $100,000 Mystic Lake Mile on Sunday at Canterbury Park. :: Bet the Mystic Lake Mile and the Lady Canterbury with DRF Bets. Get a $200 cash bonus, including $50 free just for making a deposit! Find out more today The Mystic Lake Mile, a turf race, drew 11 entrants, and hopefully all can handle heat: Mostly sunny conditions and a high temperature of 93 degrees are forecast. The Mystic Lake Mile, post time 4:26 p.m. Central, is the ninth of 11 races on the card, immediately following the $100,000 Lady Canterbury. Aztec Brave made his last start at Churchill, but after opening up five lengths on the field down the backstretch, he was reeled in and finished third. That was not his best race, and Aztec Brave on Sunday makes his third start back from a layoff. His speed is very controllable, and jockey Chris Rosier has options if, as seems possible, others are intent on leading. Aztec Brave has started nine times at one mile and never has been worse than third, and his top 103 Beyer Speed Figure at the trip is easily the highest figure in this field at any distance. Granny’s Kitten was entered in the Mystic Lake Mile and this weekend at Churchill but runs at Canterbury, trainer Mike Maker said. Granny’s Kitten looked like he might be any sort of turf horse after winning his first two starts and roaring home a close third last summer in the Penn Mile, but his development subsequently stalled, and Granny’s Kitten’s nose win in a second-level allowance April 28 at Keeneland, his most recent start, was his first win in eight starts. Granny’s Kitten lacks the tactical versatility of Aztec Brave and basically is a one-run closer dependent on pace and good fortune. Nun the Less, the winner of the Mystic Lake Derby last summer at Canterbury in his lone start over the course, also rates a legitimate win chance. Nun the Less makes his 4-year-old debut but has been working steadily since April for his first start since November. “When you work him in company, it wakes him up, and I think he’s ready,” said trainer Chris Block. “The race he won up there last year set up for him, but he did seem to like the course.” America Mon Amie on improve There are 10 fillies and mares entered for turf (and one for the main track only) in the Lady Canterbury, another turf mile, and some sort of case might be made for about half the field. But America Mon Amie, apparently improved since adding blinkers, is the pick to win at fair odds. America Mon Amie shipped to Canterbury last summer and won the Northern Pride Oaks on grass, beating the good filly Mizz Money. America Mon Amie fell too far behind the pace in an Indiana Grand turf stakes in September, then ran well below form twice before jockey Joe Bravo suggested to trainer Tony Granitz that he try her in blinkers. “He said she was running in spots,” Granitz said. “It’s seemed to help her.” America Mon Amie floundered on soft Keeneland grass in April but finished strongly into a slow pace to win a second-level allowance at Arlington last out. “I opted for this race because she loves the mile distance,” said Granitz. “She couldn’t be training any better.” Secret Someone also possesses a strong turn of foot at her best and will take back from post 11 and hope for a solid pace to develop in front of her. “It looks like there’s speed in there,” said trainer Mike Stidham. “A couple stretch-out sprinters.” Secret Someone came into Stidham’s barn in the spring after being trained by Bill Mott last season. She makes her first start since September but had what Stidham called an “excellent” six-furlong workout in 1:12 last Sunday at Arlington and could be ready to roll. Sharp has three entrants in the race, and of them, Mexican Miss looks the strongest. She came forward all winter at Fair Grounds, and her third behind Mizz Money and Cash Control when last seen March 26 would be good enough to win this race with luck.