Pretty Mischievous settled nicely in the pocket, then split foes to take over and win the $100,000 Untapable by 3 1/4 lengths Monday at Fair Grounds and earn 10 points towards qualifying for the 2023 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1).
A Godolphin homebred by Spendthrift Farm's leading sire Into Mischief, Pretty Mischievous clocked one mile and 70 yards over a fast track in 1:41.98 under Brian Hernandez Jr., who rode the winner for trainer Brendan Walsh. The Walsh barn won two other races on the Road to the Derby Kickoff Day card – the Joseph “Spanky” Broussard Memorial with Moon Swag and a maiden special weight rout with their promising 2-year-old colt Banishing, also a Godolphin homebred.
“She won sprinting early but (we) always thought that she would stretch out,” assistant trainer on the grounds Paul Madden said of Pretty Mischievous. “She ran very well at Churchill (in the G2 Golden Rod) against a really good filly (Hoosier Philly). Brendan (Walsh) wasn't sure about running in here, but she had a really good workout two weeks back and he said it's time to run. She has a great pedigree. It's a good win for Godolphin, a good day for the team, and I'm glad to be part of it.”
The odds-on favorite Vahva stumbled out of the gate and was relegated to last, more than six lengths behind the pacesetting longshot All About Me, who rushed out and took the lead over the field of nine through early fractions of :24.26 and :48.31 while taking pressure from Hayunevano.
Pretty Mischievous settled in nicely along the rail and made a bold move to split the two leaders at the half-mile pole. Hayunevano kept on with Pretty Mischievous through the turn but it was a sweeping move by The Alys Look that posed the biggest threat to the eventual winner, ranging up on the outside but failing to make a serious bid for the lead as Pretty Mischievous opened up and continued to add distance between them. Vahva battled with Hayunevano and edged that one for a distant third.
“She was the best filly today,” Hernandez said. “Going around the turn we were tucked in, but when she saw daylight she dragged me between horses. She basically did it all on her own and I just had to be a good passenger.”
The Untapable is a Kentucky Oaks qualifier and awarded points on a 10-4-3-2-1 basis.
Pretty Mischievous' impressive victory was worth $60,000 and improved her overall record to 3-0-1 from four starts and earnings of $241,310. Combined with the 3 points she earned coming in third in the Golden Rod (G3), Pretty Mischievous is in third place on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard with 13 qualifying points.
The 8-5 second choice, Pretty Mischievous returned $5.40 for the victory. Behind The Alys Look (4 Oaks points), Vahva (3 points), and Hayunevano (2 points), it was Hang the Moon (1 point), Just like Magic, Cotton Candy Annie, Two Minute Drill, and All About Me who completed the order of finish.
Pretty Mischievous was produced by Grade 1 winner Pretty City Dancer, by Tapit.
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