Mischevious Alex | Horse Racing Free Tips

Joseph Chasing Training Idol Pletcher, Hopes To Continue Success In G3 Gulfstream Park Sprint

Multiple graded-stakes winner Mischevious Alex is expected to be a short-priced favorite to capture Saturday's Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint, continuing a most successful Championship Meet for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

The Gulfstream Park Sprint, a six-furlong dash for 4-year-olds and up, and the the $100,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint (G3), a five-furlong race for 4-year-olds and up, will co-headline Saturday's 12-race program that will also feature a mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool.

Joseph, whose year-round success at Gulfstream has attracted the attention of high-profile owners in recent years, is currently sitting second in the trainer standings behind 16-time Championship Meet titleist Todd Pletcher.

“It was my dream as a young kid, 16, 17, 18, coming to Gulfstream from Barbados on holiday,” said Joseph, who grew up in a racing family in Barbados. “I'd see Todd Pletcher win all the titles and win all the races. Just to compete against him, I feel in awe.”

Joseph, who attended Florida International University and trained successfully in Barbados before returning to Gulfstream to follow his dream, has saddled 33 winners during the Championship Meet, four fewer than Todd, entering Wednesday's program.

“We came into this year with a lot of good horses and good owners who wanted to claim horses at the top level,” the 34-year-old trainer said. “We came in with high expectations. We got off to what I'd say was a slow start in December, but as the year turned everything started to click and we've had a good January and February so far. You can't be more satisfied.”

Mischevious Alex, who is owned by Cash is King LLC and LC Racing LLC, joined Joseph's stable for his 2021 campaign after a productive 3-year-old season that included victories in the Swale (G3) at Gulfstream and the Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct. Making his first start since finishing sixth in the Aug. 20 H. Allen Jerkens (G1) at Saratoga, the son of Into Mischief made a sweeping move into the stretch and drew off to win by 3 ¾ lengths in a Jan, 10 optional claiming allowance.

“On his form before, it showed he was a very good horse. He had run at Gulfstream before and his race [in the Swale] was just as good,” Joseph said. “I didn't think we had him fully cranked and see him win like that and quicken away nicely was very impressive.”

Yodel E. A. Who, the Joseph-trained second-place finisher in Mischevious Alex's stellar return, was claimed for $62,500 out of the race and came back to score an impressive three-length victory in a Feb. 6 optional claiming allowance for trainer Brittany Russell.

Saturday's $250,000 General George (G3) at Laurel Park had been under consideration, but Mischevious Alex's connections opted to stay close to home.

“The weather here looks a lot better than there, where there's snow and cold. We're going to ship him for his next race. There's no sense shipping him now and shipping him back,” said Joseph, who listed the April 3 Carter (G1) at Aqueduct as a target race.

Leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr. has the return mount aboard Mischevious Alex, who is scheduled to face six rivals.

Mac Nichol's Admiral Lynch, who finished second in last year's renewal of the graded sprint, is scheduled to clash with Mischevious Alex for the second straight race, having finished third in the Joseph trainee's 2021 debut.

Junior Alvarado has the call aboard the Victor Barboza Jr.-trained 5-year-old son of Super Saver.

William Werner and Team V's Edgemont Road enters the Gulfstream Park Sprint off an optional claiming allowance victory at Tampa Bay Downs after hopping at the start of the six-furlong sprint. The Eddie Kenneally-trained son of Speightstown previously finished third at Keeneland in the Lafayette, won by Sleepy Eyes Todd, who won the Mr. Prospector (G3) before finishing fourth in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G3) at Gulfstream.

Jose Ortiz is scheduled to ride Edgemont Road for the first time Saturday.

Jacks or Better Farm Inc.'s Shivaree, who finished fourth after setting a pressured pace in the mile Jan. 23 Fred W. Hooper (G3), is crossed entered in the Gulfstream Park Sprint and a race at Tampa Bay Downs.

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's Frosted Grace, a six-furlong optional claiming allowance winner at Gulfstream last time out; Shadybrook Farm Inc.'s Cajun Brother, who captured the Sunshine Sprint at Gulfstream after finishing third behind Frosted Grace; and Daniel Alonso's Wind of Change, who finished fourth in the Mr. Prospector last time out; round out the field.

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Mischevious Alex, Ny Traffic Breeze Toward Stakes Engagements

Multiple graded-stakes winner Mischevious Alex breezed five furlongs in 1:00.35 Sunday morning at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., accompanied by Grade 1 stakes-placed Ny Traffic.

Mischevious Alex, who came off a five-month layoff to capture a Jan. 10 optional claiming allowance in his first start for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., is likely to race next Feb. 13 in either the $100,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint (G3) or the $250,000 General George (G3) at Laurel Park with an eye toward the April 3 Carter (G1) at Aqueduct.

“Today was a very good breeze and he galloped out strong,” Joseph said. “He finished his last quarter in 23 (seconds) and change, so we're very happy.”

Sunday's workout was the first since Mischevious Alex won his 2021 debut by 3 ¾ lengths while running six furlongs in 1:09.67.

Mischevious Alex, who is owned by Cash is King LL and LC Racing LLC, launched his 2020 campaign with a 9 ¾ length victory in the Swale (G3) at Gulfstream and a two-length score in the Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct before finishing fourth in the Woody Stephens (G1) at Belmont and sixth in the H. Allen Jerkens (G1) at Saratoga.

Ny Traffic, who was also timed in 1:00.35, has been out of action since finishing eighth in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and ninth in the Preakness (G1) at Pimlico.

“The work was really more for Mischevious Alex. It was Ny Traffic's first five-eighths and we let him go easy. Alex was going to gallop out.,” Joseph said. “I thought he got enough out of it. Next week, we'll start picking it up do a little more with him. We'll work him to more times and then make a plan for him.”

Ny Traffic, who is owned by John Fanelli, Cash is King LLC, LC Racing LLC, Paul Braverman and team Hanley, finished second in the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds, the Matt Winn (G2) at Churchill Downs, and the Haskell (G1) at Monmouth Park. The son of Cross Traffic lost the Haskell by just a nose to Authentic, who went on to win the Kentucky Derby.

Joseph reported the Drain the Clock came out of his dominating victory in Saturday's $100,000 Swale (G3) at Gulfstream Park in good order.

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Preakness Qualifier: Dean Martini, Mischevious Alex Top Nominees To Federico Tesio Stakes

Dean Martini and South Bend, the top two finishers from the Ohio Derby (G3), multiple Grade 3 winner Mischevious Alex and a quartet from seven-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher are among 20 horses nominated to the $100,000 Federico Tesio Monday, Sept. 7 at Laurel Park.

The 1 1/8-mile Tesio for 3-year-olds, a 'Win and In' event for Triple Crown-nominated horses to the 145th Preakness Stakes (G1) Oct. 3 at Pimlico Race Course, is one of nine stakes worth $900,000 in purses to be contested over Laurel's Preakness Prep Weekend that includes four stakes on Kentucky Derby (G1) Day, Saturday, Sept. 5, drawing a total of 218 nominations.

Two starts after being claimed for $50,000, Dean Martini upset the Ohio Derby at odds of 14-1, holding off late-running South Bend by three-quarters of a length. Dean Martini returned to run sixth in the Ellis Park Derby Aug. 9, while South Bend was purchased privately and finished fourth in the 1 ¼-mile Travers (G1) Aug. 8 at Saratoga.

Cash is King and LC Racing's Mischevious Alex won the seven-furlong Swale (G3) at Gulfstream Park and one-mile Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct over the winter but has finished off the board in his two most recent starts, both at seven-eighths – the Woody Stephens (G1) June 20 and H. Allen Jerkens (G1) Aug. 1.

Among Pletcher's nominees are Oaklawn Stakes runner-up Farmington Road, on the Triple Crown trail earlier this year and allowance winner over the Colonial Downs turf last out July 29; Happy Saver, a son of Pletcher's 2010 Derby winner Super Saver that debuted June 20 at Belmont and is unbeaten in two starts; and Money Moves, also unraced at 2 who won suffered his first career loss in a 1 1/8-mile optional claiming allowance July 25 at Saratoga.

Also on the special Labor Day holiday program Sept. 7 is the $100,000 Weber City Miss for 3-year-old fillies going about 1 1/16 miles, a 'Win and In' qualifier for the $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan (G2) on the Preakness undercard.

A total of 27 horses were nominated to the Weber City Miss led by 2019 Spinaway (G1) winner Perfect Alibi, who finished behind likely Kentucky Oaks (G1) favorite Gamine in each of her last two starts, most recently the Aug. 8 Test (G1) at Saratoga; Project Whiskey, 38-1 winner of the Delaware Oaks (G3) July 4; and Bella Aurora, winner of Laurel's seven-furlong Gin Talking last December.

Three grass stakes, which drew a total of 93 nominations, will also be run Sept. 7. Most popular among horsemen was the $100,000 All Along for fillies and mares 3 and up at 1 1/8 miles with 35 nominees including graded-stakes winners Secret Message, Theodora B. and Varenka and graded-stakes placed Beautiful Lover and Feel Glorious.

Pewter Stable's Dubini is nominated to defend his title in the $100,000 Laurel Dash for 3-year-olds and up sprinting 5 ½ furlongs on the turf and is joined by fellow stakes winners Introduced, Just Might, Regally Irish, Shekky Shebaz, Smooth B, Texas Wedge and Wet Your Whistle along with the 10-year-olds Oak Bluffs, a 21-time career winner trained by Mary Eppler, and 2013 Mr. Prospector (G3) winner Singanothersong.

The $100,000 Henry S. Clark at 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-olds and up drew 32 nominees, among them Isabelle Haskell de Tomaso's defending champion Irish Strait; graded-stakes winners Doctor Mounty, Golden Brown, Monongahela and Olympico; and veterans John Jones and O Dionysus, stakes winners on both turf and dirt.

John Jones and Monongahela are also nominated to the $100,000 Deputed Testamony, a 1 1/16-mile event for 3-year-olds and up on the main track that returns to stakes calendar Sept. 5 for the first time since 2008. Other nominees include multiple stakes winners Cordmaker and Someday Jones, Grade 3 winner Name Changer and impressive recent Laurel allowance winner Top Line Growth.

Grade 3 winners Bellera, Golden Award and Horologist and stakes winners Another Broad, Artful Splatter, Gotham Gala, Meadow Dance and Tasting the Stars are among nominees to the Deputed Testamony's female counterpart, the $100,000 Twixt, won in 2019 by retired 2019 Barbara Fritchie (G3) winner Late Night Pow Wow.

The Sept. 5 stakes are rounded out by a pair of six-furlong dirt sprints, the $100,000 Polynesian for 3-year-olds and up led by stakes-winning stablemates Laki and Taco Supream, and $100,000 Alma North for fillies and mares 3 and older, topped by 12-time stakes winner Anna's Bandit and fellow multiple stakes winner Hello Beautiful.

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Diamond King Putting His Versatility To The Test In True North

Cash is King and LC Racing's Diamond King will turn back in distance for Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 True North, a 6 ½-furlong sprint for 4-years-old and up at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Trained by John Servis, the 5-year-old Quality Road bay won the one-mile Stymie in March at Aqueduct Racetrack but was off-the-board last out in the one-mile Blame on May 23 at Churchill Downs.

Diamond King last breezed on June 9 at Parx when he posted a swift half-mile in 47.44 seconds. He will again have the services of regular pilot Kendrick Carmouche when he exits the inside post in Saturday's test, which also features Grade 1-winners Promises Fulfilled and Firenze Fire.

Servis said the cut back in distance won't be a problem for the versatile Diamond King, who has won at distances ranging from 5 1/2-furlongs to 1 1/8-miles.

“It's not that big a turnback, he's going from a mile to six and a half,” said Servis. “I'd like it a lot better if we didn't have the one hole.”

Servis said he expects Diamond King to be forwardly placed

“Being in the one hole, it doesn't give you a whole lot of choices. We'll see how it plays out,” said Servis.

Last weekend, Servis saddled multiple graded-stakes winner Mischevious Alex to a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens, captured by the free-wheeling No Parole.

Servis said Mischevious Alex, who captured the Grade 3 Swale in February at Gulfstream and the Grade 3 Gotham in March at the Big A, has come out of the even effort in good order and he has not yet finalized plans for a possible next start.

“I was a little disappointed with the way he ran. I'm just putting a line through it,” said Servis. “He came out of the race super and we're considering a number of options for his next start.”

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