After seven straight races at Florida's Gulfstream Park, Three Witches (Into Mischief) might have to pack a suitcase. An upset winner of Saturday's GIII Princess Rooney S., she's headed to Santa Anita to line up in an all-expenses paid spot in the GI PNC Bank Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
After breaking her maiden in her debut last July, the 4-year-old took some time off before returning to the track to post three straight on-the-board finishes. Sixth in a one-mile spot two back March 10, she again went to the sidelines only to return a winner last time out facing optional claimers Aug. 27.
The only runner in the field to have never lined up in a stakes spot, Three Witches got a good early tempo to run at as Poiema (Neolithic) charged out of the gate and asserted herself up front through an opening quarter in :22.17. The field quickly spaced themselves out with the eventual winner floating back to fifth and held out in the clear nearly six paths off the fence. Racing between rivals into the far turn, the 10-1 shot wasn't making up any ground yet but really began to move into the final quarter mile past a half in :44.37. Angled outside of the leading runners, Three Witches had clear sailing home but had to contend with the closing speed of 7-5 favorite Maryquitecontrary (First Dude) who chased her home but had to settle for a narrow second.
Watch Three Witches win the Princess Rooney to secure her spot in the #WinAndYoureIn PNC Bank #BreedersCup Filly & Mare Sprint! Cheers to the connections!
J: Leonel Reyes
T: Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.
O: e Five Racing Thoroughbreds
B: Machmer Hallpic.twitter.com/FRpbDlkAVm— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) October 7, 2023
“She's run some decent races where she showed some glimpses of hope and then she'd disappoint after a couple races,” said trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. “We gave her a break and she came back to win well. Today, she put it together. Obviously, she had to make a jump, and she did.”
“The Breeders' Cup, we'll talk about. It's another jump up. She earned the right to go. We'll have to decide. [Owner] Bob [Edwards] is going to make that decision. I'll give him feedback on how she's doing, but he'll make the call,” Joseph added.
Pedigree Note:
Into Mischief picked up his 67th graded-stakes winner with Three Witches's win Saturday. Layreebelle, though unraced herself, was a $525,000 KEENOV RNA in 2018 and has already produced MGSW Kid Cruz (Lemon Drop Kid) along with GSW Spellbound (Bernardini) who herself foaled MGSW Soothsay (Distorted Humor). Another of her daughters, Rebelle (Hard Spun), produced GII Woodward S. runner up Film Star (Flatter). The dam is herself a half-sister to GISP Magical Illusion (Pulpit), better known as the grand-dam of Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy) through her daughter, Broodmare of the Year Stage Magic. The winner has an unraced 2-year-old full-brother who brought $450,000 as a yearling at the FTSAUG sale, a yearling Candy Ride (Arg) half-sister who sold for $375,000 at last month's Keeneland September Sale and a weanling half-brother, also by Candy Ride (Arg).
Saturday, Gulfstream Park
PRINCESS ROONEY INVITATIONAL S.-GIII, $200,000, Gulfstream, 10-7, 3yo/up, f/m, 7f, 1:22.89, ft.
1–THREE WITCHES, 119, f, 4, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Layreebelle, by Tale of the Cat
2nd Dam: Voodoo Lily, by Baldski
3rd Dam: Cap the Moment, by For The Moment
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($350,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-e Five Racing Thoroughbreds; B-Machmer Hall (KY); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.; J-Leonel Reyes. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 7-3-1-2, $199,870. *1/2 to Kid Cruz (Lemon Drop Kid), MGSW, $792,985; 1/2 to Spellbound (Bernardini), GSW, $231,750. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Maryquitecontrary, 123, f, 4, First Dude–Mary Kate 'n Kelly, by Mecke. O/B-R. G. Lundock (FL); T-David Fawkes. $40,000.
3–R Adios Jersey, 119, m, 5, Adios Charlie–Marion Theatre, by Montbrook. ($12,000 2yo '20 OBSMAR). O-Averill Racing LLC, ATM Racing and Jayson R. Werth; B-Ocala Stud & J. Michael O'Farrell Jr. (FL); T-Georgina Baxter. $20,000.
Margins: HF, 3HF, 3/4. Odds: 10.20, 1.40, 1.60.
Also Ran: Bluefield, Olivia Darling, Rosie's Halo, Poiema, Flakes. Scratched: Last Leaf.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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