The unbeaten New York-bred filly Maple Leaf Mel (Cross Traffic–City Gift, by City Place), well on her way to a powerful, front-running win in Saturday's GI Test S. at Saratoga, tragically broke down in the shadow of the wire and had to be euthanized on the track.
The GI Kentucky Oaks winner and 9-5 favorite 'TDN Rising Star' Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief), racing one from last for most of the seven-furlong journey, crossed the wire first, a head in front of longshot Clearly Unhinged (Into Mischief). 'Rising Star' Munnys Gold (Munnings) was third.
The rail-drawn Pretty Mischievous, quickly guided off the fence by Tyler Gaffalione, raced in sixth through fractions of :22.28 and :44.58. The five-for-five GII Victory Ride S. winner kicked for home in complete control as Pretty Mischievous began to wind up while six wide leaving the quarter pole and began her rally down the center of the course.
Maple Leaf Mel led by 2 1/2 lengths at the stretch call and was well clear approaching the wire as Pretty Mischievous and Clearly Unhinged gave chase. Maple Leaf Mel took a bad step beneath Joel Rosario approaching the wire and went down.
Both Pretty Mischievous and Clearly Unhinged were steered clear of their ill-fated, fallen rival and hit the wire together, with the former narrowly in front.
Maple Leaf Mel was humanely euthanized on track with a catastrophic injury to her right front, per Dr. Luis Castro.
Rosario incurred a cut to his lower lip and will visit a Saratoga-area hospital by private vehicle for stitches, but was otherwise alert and in good order. He is off the remainder of his mounts.
Saturday, Saratoga
TEST S.-GI, $500,000, Saratoga, 8-5, 3yo, f, 7f, :00.00, ft.
1–PRETTY MISCHIEVOUS, 124, f, 3, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Pretty City Dancer (GISW, $286,344), by Tapit
2nd Dam: Pretty City, by Carson City
3rd Dam: Pretty Special, by Riverman
O/B-Godolphin, LLC (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh; J-Tyler
Gaffalione. $275,000. 'TDN Rising Star' Lifetime Record:
9-7-1-1, $1,756,560. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or
the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Clearly Unhinged, 118, f, 3, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Smart Win, by Smart Strike
2nd Dam: Win McCool, by Giant's Causeway
3rd Dam: Win Crafty Lady, by Crafty Prospector
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK
TYPE. O-Rock Brothers Racing; B-Rock Brothers Breeding
LLC (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy. $100,000.
3–Munnys Gold, 118, f, 3, by Munnings
1st Dam: Haraawa, by Medaglia d'Oro
2nd Dam: Alseera, by Distorted Humor
3rd Dam: Unbridled Idol, by Unbridled
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($92,000 Wlg '20 FTKNOV; $300,000
Ylg '21 FTKJUL). O-Lawana L. and Robert E. Low; B-Nicksar
Farms (FL); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $60,000.
Margins: HD, 1 3/4, 1. Odds: 1.85, 17.60, 4.40.
Also Ran: Dorth Vader, Jersey Pearl, Tappin Josie, Maple Leaf Mel. Scratched: Interpolate.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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