Pappacap breezes for BSRF
ELMONT, N.Y. – Gary Barber’s Make Mischief matched a career-best 99 Beyer Speed Figure for her authoritative four-length score in Monday’s $200,000 Critical Eye Handicap, a one-turn mile for state-bred fillies and mares 3-years-old and up on Big Apple Showcase Day.
Trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, the Into Mischief bay earned a 99 Beyer for a 10 1/4-length romp in her seasonal debut on April 14 at the Big A in an open optional-claimer, but faltered in her next effort when fifth in the Grade 2 Ruffian over a muddy and sealed main track on May 8 at Belmont.
Dylan Davis, aboard for her last three efforts, put Make Mischief into the race Monday and tracked the early foot of Mashnee Girl before taking command in the turn and drawing away to a smart score over Bank Sting.
“I was proud of her. I thought she trained better than ever this winter and her first race reflected that,” Casse said. “Her second race was a bit dull. It was a much tougher field, but she just never got into the race. Yesterday, you knew from the beginning she was on her game.”
Casse said he and Barber will now consider all options for the multiple graded stakes placed Make Mischief, who finished third in the Grade 1 Acorn in June at Belmont. A NYRA circuit option could be the Grade 2, $200,000 Shuvee at nine furlongs on July 24 at Saratoga Race Course.
“Gary and I are having that conversation on whether to stretch her out or not. We’ll look at all the options,” Casse said. “From a broodmare standpoint, she’s Grade 1-placed and now we want to make her a graded-stakes winner. She came out of the race in good order.”
Make Mischief was bred in the Empire State by Avanti Stable.
Rustlewood Farm’s graded stakes winner Pappacap breezed a bullet half-mile in 47.47 Sunday over Big Sandy in preparation for the Grade 1, $400,000 Woody Stephens presented by Mohegan Sun, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomores on Belmont Stakes Day.
“That’s him. He likes his job,” said Casse of the quick breeze.
Pappacap, by Gun Runner, won the Grade 2 Best Pal in August at Del Mar and has subsequently hit the board in the Grade 1 American Pharoah [2nd] in October at Santa Anita, the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile [2nd] in November at Del Mar, the Grade 3 Lecomte [3rd] in January at Fair Grounds and a pacesetting second under Flavien Prat to Jack Christopher last out in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile on May 7 at Churchill.
“I thought it was a good race, he just got beat by a freakish type of horse,” Casse said. “He broke running and Flavien felt when he broke like that, he wasn’t going to take him back. We’re cutting back another eighth and I’d be shocked if he was on the lead going seven-eighths, but I’m not one to give the rider instructions. We’ll leave that up to Flavien.”
Casse has a number of possible starters at the three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, including D.J. Stable’s Stayhonor Goodside, who is targeting the $150,000 Tremont, a 5 1/2-furlong sprint for juveniles on Thursday, June 9.
The Honor Code bay notched a 5 1/2-length debut score sprinting 4 1/2-furlongs over the Woodbine Tapeta on May 21.
“He was just impressive. We liked him and always thought he could run from the get-go, so that wasn’t a shock for us,” Casse said.
Paul W. Tackett’s Miss Majorette will target the Grade 3, $200,000 Intercontinental, a six-furlong turf sprint for older fillies and mares on Friday, June 10.
The 5-year-old Twirling Candy mare made her first start for Casse last out, closing to finish second in the six-furlong License Fee on May 1 at Belmont. The effort, which garnered an 87 Beyer, was Miss Majorette’s seasonal debut.
“I thought she ran extremely well. She got held up in traffic or she would have been a lot closer,” Casse said.
Casse also has multiple graded stakes placed Proven Strategies nominated to the Grade 1, $400,000 Jaipur, a six-furlong turf sprint for 3-year-olds and up on Belmont Stakes Day.
The veteran conditioner said Tracy Farmer’s Adora, a debut winner in May at Woodbine, will miss the $150,000 Astoria on June 9 at Belmont and point to the Grade 3, $150,000 Schuylerville, a six-furlong sprint for juvenile fillies on Opening Day July 14 at Saratoga.
NYRA Press Office
Photo: Make Mischief (pink silks) earning her 99BSF making the field chase her to the finish. (Dom Napolitano)
