Leinster, Mischevious Alex Win Gulfstream Park Stakes
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Lauren King
Leinster catches High Crime in the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Leinster came through as the 2-5 favorite when racing Feb. 13 in the sixth race at Gulfstream Park, where the Rusty Arnold trainee added the $100,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint Stakes (G3T) to his growing list of graded stakes victories.
Rated in third early by Luis Saez, as High Crime and Inter Miami posted a :21.03 opening-quarter in the five-furlong turf dash, Leinster was urged into action leaving the turn and the skilled turf sprinter responded down the stretch to catch High Crime by a neck.
"That was the trip that we expected. I know we had some speed inside, but he's that kind of horse that you can't rush him early. You have to let him get his feet," Saez said. "When he came to the stretch, he knows what to do. He was always responding and it was easy for him. When we came to the stretch, I knew we were going to be OK. I know (High Crime) was a pretty tough horse, but Leinster, he came from the layoff, too, so we didn't want to push him early. He did his job."
The Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint was one of two stakes Saturday at Gulfstream, the other of which was the $100,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint Stakes (G3), in which another heavy favorite, Mischevious Alex, was also triumphant.
Making his first start since finishing third in the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) at Keeneland, Leinster ($2.80) ran five furlongs on a good turf course in :55.29.
"I liked the way he did it. They were going head and head; they were going so fast, (Saez) took him back and gave him a breather," said Arnold. "It looked for a second he might not get there, but he (found) that gear."
High Crime, the 3-1 second choice ridden by Julien Leparoux, held second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Harry's Ontheloose.
Leinster now is a four-time graded stakes winner, including twice at the grade 2 level. Last year he took the Shakertown Stakes (G2T) and the Woodford Stakes Presented by TVG (G2T) at Keeneland before beaten a length by Glass Slippers in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.
Arnold said that the 6-year-old son of Majestic Warrior would likely return in either the March 27 Al Quoz Sprint Sponsored by Azizi Developments (G1) on the March 28 Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) undercard or the April 3 Shakertown at Keeneland.
Racing for Amy Dunne, Brenda Miley, Westrock Stables, and Jean Wilkinson, Leinster improved his earnings to $764,971 with a record of 6-6-5 from 24 starts. Bred in Kentucky by Gryphon Investments out of the Royal Academy mare Vassar, he is a half brother to two-time Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Stormy Liberal, the champion turf male of 2018.
Leinster was a $75,000 RNA at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale as part of the Wavertree Stables consignment. Dunne and her husband, Ciaran, operate Wavertree.
Video: Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint S. (G3T)
Mischevious Alex Outclasses Rivals
Five races after the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint, it was Mischevious Alex that outclassed a depleted field in the six-furlong Gulfstream Park Sprint that was reduced to four starters when Edgemont Road, Shivaree, and Admiral Lynch were scratched.
Bidding between rivals on the turn after Cajun Brother set and an opening quarter in :22.45, he took charge with a half-mile in :44.87 and pulled away by 3 1/4 lengths over second-place finisher Frosted Grace. The winner was timed in 1:09.55 for the distance under Irad Ortiz Jr.
"It worked out well. He got the job done," trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. "He broke well and I was happy how he broke. For a brief moment, where he was in a little tight, Irad did a great job of maintaining his spot. After that, he stayed six furlongs strongly. At six furlongs, you don't have to worry about him stopping. He keeps getting stronger towards the end."
Mischevious Alex wins the Gulfstream Park Sprint Stakes
Cajun Brother faded to third, a half-length behind Frosted Grace, and Wind of Change was a distant last.
Mischevious Alex ($2.80) earned $62,000 in the Gulfstream Park Sprint for owners Cash is King, headed by Chuck Zacney, and LC Racing. He has now won six of 11 races and $449,730.
The 4-year-old son of Into Mischief recorded his second straight victory of the 2020-21 Championship Meet with the April 3 Carter Handicap (G1) at Aqueduct Racetrack or the Golden Shaheen (G1) at Meydan on the March 28 Dubai World Cup undercard being targeted for his next start.
"The Carter is the primary goal. The Dubai sprint is in our minds, but we're going to talk it over and decide," Joseph said. "Chuck has a game plan to try to win a grade 1 this year."
Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm out of the winning Speightstown mare White Pants Night, Mischevious Alex was a $140,000 RNA from the Eisaman Equine's consignment to the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. Eisaman purchased him for $75,000 from Taylor Made Sales Agency's consignment to the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
He is the lone stakes winner from three foals to race from White Pants Night, whose younger progeny include an unnamed 2-year-old son of Outwork and a Wicked Strong yearling colt.