Recently crowned champion 3-year-old filly Pretty Mischievous (f, 4, Into Mischief–Pretty City Dancer, by Tapit), off since finishing a rallying second in the GI Cotillion S. over a sloppy, sealed track at Parx Sept. 23, has begun to gear up for her 2024 campaign.
The Godolphin homebred and 'TDN Rising Star' is currently in training with Brendan Walsh at Palm Meadows in South Florida and could potentially return to action over Kentucky Derby weekend.
“She went back to Brendan a couple of weeks ago,” Godolphin USA Director of Bloodstock Michael Banahan said. “She had a nice break in the wintertime up here at Jonabell. She's a big, strong filly anyway, but she did very well with her break. He'll probably start doing a couple of little two-minute licks with her in the next couple of weeks and start to step it up.”
Banahan added, “Nothing in stone in yet, but we'll probably look at trying to get her started at Churchill, maybe the (GI) La Troienne S. or something like that.”
Led by a thrilling, neck victory from post 14 with first-time blinkers in last year's GI Kentucky Oaks, Pretty Mischievous was a slam dunk as the nation's champion 3-year-old filly.
She backed up her 10-1 upset on the first Friday in May with another game tally at the top level, this time by a head, in the GI Acorn S. during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.
Following the tragic breakdown of Maple Leaf Mel (Cross Traffic), Pretty Mischievous crossed the wire first by a head while turning back to seven furlongs in a heart-breaking renewal of the GI Test S. at Saratoga.
After losing little in defeat in the Cotillion, she shipped to Santa Anita to take on older fillies and mares for the first time in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, but was scratched after showing signs of colic following the flight from Kentucky.
“She had a bit of a belly ache and just wasn't herself,” Banahan said. “I think it was maybe just a little bit with the shipping. She had a long season up to there and she answered every call. She trained O.K. (after shipping), but she just wasn't 100 percent, and you can't be running in a race the quality of the Breeders' Cup Distaff unless you're 100 percent. It wouldn't be fair to her to be taking a chance like that.”
A daughter of the all-conquering Into Mischief, Pretty Mischievous was produced by 2016 GI Spinaway S. winner Pretty City Dancer, who was acquired by Sheikh Mohammed's operation for $3.5 million at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton November sale. Pretty Mischievous currently sports a record of 10-7-2-1 and career earnings of $1,944,560.
“She's in great shape now,” Banahan concluded. “Couldn't be better. We're very happy to have her back in the barn.”
The post Champion Pretty Mischievous Back in Training for Four-Year-Old Campaign appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
Racing official Victor Escobar has been appointed New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) Steward, NYRA announced late Thursday afternoon. The former Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission (OHRC) State Steward, where he'd been since 2021 and where he had played a central role in the implementation of Category 1 rules at Remington Park, Escobar will join NYRA Feb. 16. As OHRC Steward, Escobar was also responsible for public communication with the betting public immediately following stewards' decisions. He has also served as State Steward for the New Mexico Racing Commission and as an Association Steward at Rillito Park.
In 2023, Escobar was selected by the Racing Officials Accreditation Program (ROAP) as the first American steward to participate in the International Stewards Education Program, a three-week immersion in the United Kingdom designed to facilitate international harmonization amongst stewards and judges.
The NYRA Board of Stewards is comprised of three officials who collectively officiate races and adjudicate disputes at all NYRA tracks. The Board includes the New York State Gaming Commission Steward, The Jockey Club Steward and the NYRA Steward.
Escobar, the son of retired jockey Victor Escobar Sr., succeeds Brook Hawkins, who has been the primary NYRA Steward since 2019.
The post Victor Escobar Succeeds Brook Hawkins as NYRA Steward appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
