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Wonder Wheel Slices her Way to Juvenile Fillies Win

LEXINGTON, KY – D J Stable's Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief) was masterfully handled from far back beneath Tyler Gaffalione and produced a devastating stretch run to secure a year-end divisional championship in Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland. Leave No Trace (Outwork) was three lengths back in second; Raging Sea (Curlin) finished third.

“There was lots of doubt probably the entire race given the way she has run in the past,” said winning trainer Mark Casse after registering his sixth Breeders' Cup victory. “She is just a really good horse. She is just special and now she is going to be champion.”

In a stark contrast to her narrow, wire-to-wire tally in her route debut in the local GI Darley Alcibiades S., the 6-1 chance quite surprisingly found herself far back in 11th through fractions of :22.90 and :47.22. Traveling beautifully on the inside on the far turn, but desperately in the need of some racing luck, Gaffalione kept his cool and tipped Wonder Wheel out three deep through a tight opening as they straightened. She put on a show from there to leave them all in the dust.

Wonder Wheel, a winner of her first two starts at Churchill Downs, including a runaway score in the Debutante S., was second behind the 25-1 Juvenile Fillies runner-up Leave No Trace in Saratoga's GI Spinaway S. Wonder Wheel held on by a nose over the unlucky Chop Chop (City of Light) after setting the pace in the Alcibiades. Juvenile Fillies third Raging Sea was disqualified from third for interference that day and placed fourth.

Gaffalione, the regular rider of the Casse-trained GI Preakness S. winner War of Will (War Front), entered this year's Championships with an 0-for-34 record.

“She didn't break very well,” Gaffalione said. “I got pushed back a little further than I wanted to be. But when she broke her maiden, she took dirt and went in between horses and I wasn't too concerned [today]. Spots kept opening up inside, so I just going forward and it just worked out.”

Chop Chop was last of 13 as the 2-1 favorite.

“Didn't work out very well,” trainer Brad Cox said. “She broke, she was fine. She was a little hot in the paddock for me. I didn't love that. She got pushed wide going into the first turn. She got pushed wide actually by the winner. The winner was ultra-impressive. We just didn't have much horse.”

The Green family's D J Stable, along with Cash is King, campaigned 2018 Juvenile Fillies winner and that season's champion 2-year-old filly Jaywalk (Cross Traffic).

“It's an incredible feeling, not only to win a race of this caliber at Keeneland, but to do it with these classy gentlemen,” D J Stable's Jon Green said. “Tyler's been phenomenal for us over the past couple of years, Mark has been training for us for three years now, and we've been in the Breeders' Cup every year.

Green continued, “Jaywalk won it, again, similar situation, she was third choice, kind of overlooked by a lot of people, which is fine by us; we like being the underdog, we're used to it, quite frankly.”

As for Wonder Wheel, Green concluded, “She's a classy filly. She never misses a day of training and she's got a great level head. But you still worry about asking a horse at this level to do something completely new. And that's why we employ somebody like Tyler because he just navigated her right to the rail and through an open hole and the rest is history.”

Pedigree Notes:

Wonder Wheel joins Into Mischief's rapidly growing all-star line-up of Breeders' Cup winners Authentic, Covfefe, Gamine, Life Is Good and Goldencents (2x). The $275,000 KEESEP yearling was already one of 13 Grade I winners for her all-conquering sire. Wonder Wheel's talented multiple stakes-winning dam Wonder Gal, a close third in the 2014 Juvenile Fillies, was barren on a 2022 Constitution cover. Wonder Wheel is her most recent produce. This is the extended female family of GISWs Force the Pass and Perfect Drift.

Friday, Keeneland
NETJETS BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE FILLIES-GI, $1,840,000, Keeneland, 11-4, 2yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:44.90, ft.
1–WONDER WHEEL, 122, f, 2, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Wonder Gal (MSW & MGISP, $904,800), by Tiz Wonderful
2nd Dam: Passe, by Dixie Union
3rd Dam: Gal On the Go, by Irgun
($275,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-D. J. Stable LLC; B-Three Chimneys Farm, LLC & Clearsky Farms (KY); T-Mark E. Casse; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $1,040,000. Lifetime Record: 5-4-1-0, $1,550,725. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Leave No Trace, 122, f, 2, by Outwork
1st Dam: Tanquerray, by Good Journey
2nd Dam: Kitty Galore, by Mountain Cat
3rd Dam: Patriot Star, by Torsion
($8,000 Ylg '21 FTKFEB; $40,000 Ylg '21 EASOCT). O-WellSpring Stables; B-Red Cloak Farm, LLC (KY); T-Philip M. Serpe. $340,000.
3–Raging Sea, 122, f, 2, by Curlin
1st Dam: Stormy Welcome, by Storm Cat
2nd Dam: Welcome Surprise, by Seeking the Gold
3rd Dam: Weekend Surprise, by Secretariat
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($300,000 RNA Ylg '21 KEESEP). O/B-Alpha Delta Stables, LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $180,000.
Margins: 3, 1, 1 3/4. Odds: 6.50, 25.81, 6.71.
Also Ran: Sabra Tuff, You're My Girl, Grand Love, Atomically, And Tell Me Nolies, Alma Rosa, Vegas Magic, Shoplifter, Chocolate Gelato, Chop Chop. Scratched: American Rockette.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Exceed and Excel’s Mischief Magic Rallies to Win the BC Turf Sprint for Godolphin

LEXINGTON, KY–Godolphin's Mischief Magic (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) started off the Breeders' Cup action on an unseasonably warm and picture perfect day at Keeneland Friday in style with a late-rallying victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

Dispatched at 6-1 in this 5 1/2-furlong event, the homebred was off slowest of all, leaving him trailing the field early. Meanwhile Speed Boat Beach (Bayern) and previously unbeaten Tyler's Tribe (Sharp Azteca) sped out to the early lead, dueling through a :21.65 opening quarter. American Apple (American Pharoah), a 51-1 shot, charged up the fence to take the lead approaching the far turn, just as William Buick asked Mischief Magic to begin his bid. The flashy bay responded, taking closer order up the fence to put himself in contention, but still had plenty left to do entering the bend. Stuck behind a wall of horses at the top of the stretch as Dramatised (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) took control, Mischief Magic attempted to get out of traffic, but was quickly blocked off. However, another seam opened just in time as Speed Boat Beach called it quits and Mischief Magic punched through horses, forging clear late for a one-length score in front of a very appreciative crowd.

Dramatised held second with Private Creed (Jimmy Creed) in third. Tyler's Tribe was pulled up and vanned off after bleeding in this first start without Lasix.

“I have to say I knew they were going to go hard,” winning trainer Charlie Appleby said. “From the gate, William [Buick] is riding in such great form and has so much confidence in his horses. I can see what he was doing. He was just going to get him on his lead. But he made a lovely run (up the backside) and he was trying to angle out and just got pushed back (inside). He didn't do the horse any harm as I said to William, the one thing he wants is to give him gaps. Give him daylight and the old bugger just might have a second chance. Fantastic ride by William and great effort by all the team. Great to be back.”

“I expected to him to be outpaced early,” Buick said. “He's a comfortable closer at six furlongs at home. I knew the 5 1/2 furlongs here with the speed in the race would catch him out early. I knew if I got behind a horse that would take me into the straight, he would finish off real good. He felt super.”

The jockey continued, “He ran very well in the middle part (of his last race). It was a good race at Newmarket. This is only his sixth race. He's still learning. He enjoys this ground and everything came together for him today.”

As for the runner-up, trainer Karl Burke said, “She ran a fantastic race. We couldn't have asked for anything more, really. She's just a little bit slow for gate speed, which we were always a little bit concerned with, but Ryan (Moore) gave her a beautiful ride and was committed to go down the rail once we were slow away. Maybe we were a bit lucky to get the gaps in the straight. We thought we had it won a half-furlong out. Fair play–Charlie's horse is a very good horse. She's probably a stiff five-furlong horse.”

Breaking through at second asking at Goodwood in July, Mischief Magic romped in an allowance at Newmarket next out Aug. 13. He followed suit with a victory in Kempton's G3 Sirenia S. Sept. 3 and was fourth when last seen in the G1 Middle Park S. at Newmarket Sept. 24.

Pedigree Notes:

Mischief Magic represents Sheikh Moahmmed's operation from top to bottom. The chestnut is the 17th Grade I winner for Darley Australia's Exceed and Excel and his second Breeders' Cup winner, following 2013 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Outstrip (GB). He is also the 11th top-level scorer out of a daughter of Elusive Quality, who is now the broodmare sire of a whopping four Breeders' Cup winners. The other three all came on dirt with subsequent Eclipse winners in two-time GI Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Roy H, GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint victress Shamrock Rose and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Essential Quality, who is also a Godolphin homebred. Mischief Magic is bred on the same Exceed and Excel/Elusive Quality cross as MG1SW Guelph.

His unraced dam Veil of Silence, also a product of the Godolphin operation, is a daughter of English and Irish Highweight and MG1SW Gossamer (GB) (Sadler's Wells), who is a full-sibling to European Horse of the Year Barathea (Ire). Mischief Magic is the second graded winner for his dam, who is also responsible for GSW Sound and Silence (GB). The 16-year-old mare's most recent produce is a full-sister to Mischief Magic.

Friday, Keeneland
BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE TURF SPRINT-GI, $920,000, Keeneland, 11-4, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 1:02.41, fm.
1–MISCHIEF MAGIC (IRE), 122, c, 2, by Exceed And Excel (Aus)
                1st Dam: Veil of Silence (Ire), by Elusive Quality
                2nd Dam: Gossamer (GB), by Sadler's Wells
                3rd Dam: Brocade (GB), by Habitat
1ST GRADE I WIN. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charles Appleby;
J-William T. Buick. $520,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng,
6-4-0-1, $607,317. *Full to Sound And Silence (GB), GSW-Fr,
MSW & GSP-Eng, SP-USA, $244,281. Werk Nick Rating: A+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Dramatised (Ire), 119, f, 2, Showcasing (GB)–Katie's Diamond
(Fr), by Turtle Bowl (Ire). 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O-Clipper
Logistics; B-Branton Court Stud (IRE); T-Karl Burke. $170,000.
3–Private Creed, 122, c, 2, Jimmy Creed–South Andros, by
Sky Mesa. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE.
($45,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $155,000 2yo '22 EASMAY). O-Mike
McCarty; B-Sierra Farm (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $90,000.
Margins: 1, NK, 2. Odds: 6.92, 12.96, 10.33.
Also Ran: Persian Force (Ire), Lady Hollywood (GB), American Apple, Sharp Aza Tack, Love Reigns (Ire), Speed Boat Beach, Oxymore, The Platinum Queen (Ire), Tyler's Tribe. Scratched: Bushido, Mounsieur Coco, No Nay Hudson (Ire).
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Into Mischief Colt Earns ‘Rising Star’ Tag At Keeneland

Giant Mischief (Into Mischief) was a bit under the radar here at 6-1 after overcoming a fair bit of adversity to win on debut at Horseshoe Indianpolis Sept. 22, but he assured that won't be the case next out with an impressive score over 'TDN Rising Star' Arabian Lion (Justify) in a Keeneland optional claimer Friday, earning his own 'Rising Star' nod.

The $475,000 KEESEP buy, carrying the Spendthrift colors for this second start, put himself into the early mix from his low draw and stalked from second through a snappy :22.35 opening quarter. Favored Arabian Lion, who bobbled for a stride or two not long after the start, launched the first attack on the pacesetter, moving up outside of Giant Mischief to confront the leader as the half went in :45.84. That foe surrendered quickly and it was a three-wide Arabian Lion and the rail-skimming Giant Mischief turning for home together. Arabian Lion hit the front with such a head of steam that it looked like he'd blow the doors off his foe, but Giant Mischief refused to yield, and the pair battled down the length of the stretch, with Giant Mischief maintaining a narrow advantage to the wire. Arabian Lion was a gallant second after covering 25 feet (about 2 3/4 lengths) more than the winner. It was another 17 1/2 lengths back to Laurel debut victor Old Alliance (Hard Spun) in third.

The 36th 'TDN Rising Star' for Into Mischief, Giant Mischief is out of the MGSW mare Vertical Oak, who herself brought $700,000 out of the Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed Sale by Stonestreet Thoroughbreds carrying the winner in utero. Vertical Oak, who was trained by Steve Asmussen, is a daughter of Vertical Vision–also conditioned by the Hall of Famer–who was the first stakes winner for her sire back in 2009. Vertical Oak has since produced a weanling filly by Curlin and visited Quality Road for the 2023 season.

4th-Keeneland, $160,000, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($100,000), 11-4, 2yo, 7f, 1:22.30, ft, 3/4 length.
GIANT MISCHIEF, c, 2, Into Mischief
1st Dam: Vertical Oak (MGSW, $773,095), by Giant Oak
2nd Dam: Vertical Vision, by Pollard's Vision
3rd Dam: Caney Creek, by Service Stripe
Sales history: $475,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $113,400. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Spendthrift Farm LLC, Steve Landers Racing LLC, M. Schwartz, M. Dubb, Ten Strike Racing, J. Bakke, Titletown Racing Stables, Kueber Racing, LLC, Big Easy Racing LLC, Winners Win, MK. Caruso & Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.

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Saturday Insights: Baffert Unveils $2.3M Arabian Knight, The Return Of Messier, And More On Breeders’ Cup Undercard

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

1st-KEE, $150K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 10:30 a.m.
After working an eighth of a mile in a blazing :9 4/5, ARABIAN KNIGHT (Uncle Mo) achieved a final bid of a sale-topping $2.3 million from Zedan Racing Stables at this year's OBS April Sale after fetching $250,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale. The first foal out of a half-sister to MGSP Kinsley Kisses (Congrats), the bay posted a trio of speedy works on the west coast leading up to his debut including six furlongs from the gate in 1:12 (2/5) Oct. 23 and a five-furlong drill in 1:00 (6/39) Oct. 29. Also taking to the track in the afternoon for the first time Saturday is the Brad Cox trained Rocket and Roll (Bolt d'Oro), himself a $675,000 purchase and the third-highest price out of the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale. His dam, who has produced six winners from as many to make the races, is a daughter of champion grass mare Soaring Softly (Kris S.) and hails from the family of GISW Plenty of Grace (Roberto) and GSW & MGISP Recepta (Speightstown). Rocket and Roll sold twice as a yearling–first for $65,000 at Fasig-Tipton July and for $90,000 a few weeks later at KEESEP. TJCIS PPS

2nd-KEE, $195K, Aoc, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 11:05 a.m.
Last seen trailing home longshot winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice) in this year's GI Kentucky Derby, MESSIER (Empire Maker) makes his return to the track back under the tutelage of Bob Baffert. Named a 'TDN Rising Star' for his 6 1/2-length maiden-breaking win, he went on to claim the GIII Bob Hope S. and finished out his juvenile campaign with a narrow loss to Slow Down Andy (Nyquist) in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity. He blew the doors to his 3-year-old year wide open with a 15-length romp in the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. Feb. 6 before joining trainer Tim Yakteen to finish second behind stablemate and GI Breeders' Cup Classic contender Taiba (Gun Runner) in the GI Santa Anita Derby Apr. 9. Transferred back to Baffert following his distant finish at Churchill Downs, Messier makes his first start Saturday in six months with regular rider John Velazquez aboard. TJCIS PPS

1st-AQU, $85K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 10:50 a.m.
The second foal to make the races out of MGISW I'm A Chatterbox (Munnings), JUNIPER'S MOON (Galileo {Ire}) makes her first start Saturday for trainer Anthony Dutrow. A $725,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by J.R. International Holdings, the chestnut worked four furlongs from the gate in :48.4 (9/33) Oct. 31 and gets Kendrick Carmouche in the irons. Breaking one gate further out, Natural Beauty (Blame) debuts for Christophe Clement and owner Cheyenne Stable. Herself a $525,000 yearling, she is the first foal out of a half-sister to MGSW Blamed (Blame). TJCIS PPS

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