Godolphin homebred Pretty Mischievous has put herself firmly atop the 3-year-old filly division with Friday's hard-fought victory in the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park. The Brendan Walsh-trained Kentucky Oaks winner was backing up in distance for the challenging one-turn contest over 1 1/16 miles, and had to dig deep versus 11-1 chance Dorth Vader to win by a head on the wire.
Ridden to victory by Tyler Gaffalione, Pretty Mischievous was the second choice in the wagering at odds of 9-5 and paid $5.80 to win. The daughter of Into Mischief stopped the clock in 1:43.33 over Belmont's fast main track.
Dorth Vader ran well to be second in her first start for trainer George Weaver (previously Michael Yates), while 27-1 longshot Occult ran down frontrunning 8-5 favorite Munny's Gold to finish third.
As expected, Munny's Gold was quick off the blocks to lead the field out of the chute under Irad Ortiz, Jr. The favorite was pressured by Goodgirlbadhabits through fractions of :23.34, :46.37, and 1:10.86. Dorth Vader hugged the rail in third down the backstretch, just inside of Randomized. Pretty Mischievous broke sharply, but allowed Gaffalione to ease her back to sixth in the early going.
Rounding the far turn, Dorth Vader swung off the rail to challenge frontrunning favorite Munny's Gold, thus forcing Gaffalione to take a three-wide path aboard Pretty Mischievous. Those three turned for home on even terms, but Munny's Gold was the first to drop back.
Pretty Mischievous took command near the eighth pole, but was dogged all the way to the wire by Dorth Vader to win by just a head. Occult ran on well late to score third over Munny's Gold.
Bred in Kentucky by her owner, Pretty Mischievous is out of the Grade 1-winning Tapit mare Pretty City Dancer.
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