Tracy Farmer's Philly Eagles, with exercise rider Janelle Castonguay up for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse, breezed a half-mile in :50.26 Sunday over the inner turf at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., in preparation for the $100,000 Chelsey Flower, a 1 1/16-mile turf test for juveniles fillies on October 31.
“I was happy with the way she went,” said Casse assistant Shane Tripp. “The turf was a little bit soft from the rain we had last night, but she did it well within herself.”
A maiden winner at Doncaster in June for her former trainer Alice Haynes, the Havana Gold bay made her North American debut with a solid fourth in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 Miss Grillo over firm Belmont turf October 2 where she was bumped at the break and checked.
“I really loved the effort she gave. It was a pretty stout group,” Tripp said. “She's doing well and has acclimated well. I like where she's at now compared to Saratoga. I'm looking forward to leading her over.”
Gary Barber's multiple graded-stakes placed New York-bred Make Mischief worked five-eighths in 1:00.91 Friday over Big Sandy in preparation for the 1 1/16-mile $250,000 Empire Distaff on Saturday's Empire Showcase Day card.
“She worked really well. She loves it here. I like the way she gets across the main track,” Tripp said.
The Into Mischief bay graduated at first asking in June 2020 over Big Sandy and followed with runner-up efforts in the Grade 3 Schuylerville and Grade 2 Adirondack, both at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Through nine sophomore starts, Make Mischief has posted a record of 3-1-2, including a win in the Maddie May in February at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y., and a close third in the Grade 1 Acorn in June at Belmont. She finished second by a neck last out in the nine-furlong Fleet Indian on August 27 at the Spa.
“She's a warrior that will give you everything she has every time. I'm pleased with how she's coming into it,” Tripp said. “She's an open-company type horse. Her last effort upstate against state-breds was impressive. I expect her to run well.”
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