Pretty Mischievous wins the Kentucky Oaks under Tyler Gaffalione (Daniella Ricci/Past The Wire)
David Joseph/Gulfstream Park
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla.— Godolphin homebred Pretty Mischievous, the Eclipse Award champion 3-year-old filly of 2023, registered her first timed work of the year Thursday at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream Park’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County.
Pretty Mischievous went three furlongs in an easy 37.65 seconds over a fast main track for trainer Brendan Walsh, her first breeze since late October.
“She went nice, just an easy three-eighths and galloped out a half-mile,” Walsh said. “It went good and we are glad to get her back on the work tab.”
Pretty Mischievous has not raced since finishing second as the favorite in the Cotillion (G1) Sept. 23 at Parx. She was entered in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 4 at Santa Anita but withdrawn when Walsh wasn’t pleased with how she was heading into the race.
“We’ve done plenty of galloping with her the last few weeks at Palm Meadows to get a good bottom on her,” Walsh said. “She looks like she’s done very well with her little break and we look forward to the year ahead.”
The Cotillion snapped a three-race win streak for Pretty Mischievous that began with a 10-1 upset of the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and continued in the Acorn (G1) at Belmont Park and Saratoga’s Test (G1). She kicked off her championship season with a victory in the Rachel Alexandra (G2) at Fair Grounds.
“We are very proud of her. She was a tribute to everybody on the Godolphin team and my own team here,” Walsh said. “Hopefully she moves forward this year and I think we can have another very good year with her if she does.”
Walsh said the connections have not settled on a starting point for Pretty Mischievous to launch her 4-year-old season.
“Not really. We’ll just see how things fare down here,” he said. “We won’t be in any rush with her. We’ll let her tell us when she’s ready.”
