Trainer Linda Rice's strong run of form was catapulted by a decisive victory from Lady Sheila Stable New York homebred Downtown Mischief in Saturday's Cicada, a six-furlong open company stakes for sophomore fillies. The Into Mischief bay could now target the seven-furlong $125,000 Bouwerie against fellow state-breds on May 29 at Belmont Park.
In capturing Saturday's engagement, Downtown Mischief kept a flawless record intact having now won all three of her lifetime starts. She was a 7 3/4-length winner of her January 14 debut before defeating winners on February 17 by 1 1/4 lengths. Both efforts were local six-furlong tests.
Downtown Mischief was asked to overcome several circumstances in the Cicada, breaking a step slow before feeling added pressure in between horses on the front end. Nevertheless, she was able to shake off the challenges and cross the wire a 1 1/2-length winner under Jose Lezcano while recording a career-best 81 Beyer Speed Figure.
Rice said Downtown Mischief could run once prior to the Bouwerie.
“Frankly, I'm a little undecided. That race is a ways off. I may choose to run her before then. She came out of the race great and we're really pleased with her,” Rice said.
Downtown Mischief appeared to tire a bit during the final furlong of the Cicada, but Rice said she was not the least bit discouraged.
“She actually galloped out pretty well despite that,” Rice commented. “She broke a step slow, had to overcome some fast fractions and got pace pressure on both sides of her. She's still learning and maturing, but she keeps stepping through each hurdle very nicely.”
Downtown Mischief is out of the Speightstown mare Downtown Mama, a three-time winner campaigned by the same connections and a half sister to graded stakes winner Alpha Kitten.
Downtown Mischief's victory provided Rice with her ninth triumph in the past 11 races she was entered. She increased that number to 10-of-12 in the Saturday finale when D.J. Stable's Lifetime of Chance romped to a 16-length conquest to break his maiden at sixth asking. The bay son of The Lieutenant earned a 91 Beyer for his triumph going seven furlongs against fellow New York-breds.
Rice said Lifetime of Chance, bred in the Empire State by Destiny Oaks of Ocala, will likely target the $200,000 NYSSS Times Square on April 22 going 6 1/2 furlongs at the Big A.
Prior to breaking his maiden, Lifetime of Chance finished in the money four times, including a third in the NYSSS Great White Way in December. He was an uncharacteristic distant fourth on February 9 going six furlongs.
“When he ran poorly last month, he had gotten sick after the race,” Rice said. “I think he might have been coming down with something before the race that we were unaware. But he certainly bounced back and ran great.”
Rice spoke of her red-hot run of winning form, which she could build into Sunday's program. Before scratches, she has nine entrants across seven races on the card.
“Everybody wants to win races. When you're in racing for a long duration, you're going to experience highs and lows,” Rice said. “You just have to enjoy the highs because it's a game that fluctuates pretty quickly. It certainly helps the morale when things are going well.”
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