Pretty Mischievous to Stretch Out Again in Cotillion

It may have seemed surprising when Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Pretty Mischievous  showed up in the entries for the seven-furlong Test Stakes (G1) Aug. 5 at Saratoga Race Course.

It became much more understandable Aug. 16 when the entries for the 1 1/4-mile Alabama Stakes (G1) at the Spa were announced.

Godolphin, which owns Pretty Mischievous, also owns Wet Paint , the beaten favorite in the 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Oaks who won the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) in her last start and is the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the Alabama.

After winning the Kentucky Oaks, Pretty Mischievous won the Acorn Stakes (G1) at 1 1/16 miles.

With a pair of 3-year-old fillies that talented, it's not surprising that a decision was made to keep the two grade 1 winners on separate paths, though no one should expect to see the homebred daughter of Into Mischief   in a sprint again.

"Those spots felt like the right move for both fillies. The races were at the right time of the year for them and maybe they can meet at some point later in the year," said Michael Banahan, Godolphin USA's director of bloodstock.  

Officially, Pretty Mischievous won the Test for a third-straight grade 1 victory, but that happened only because Maple Leaf Mel suffered a fatal injury a few strides from crossing the wire a decisive winner. Knowing that the Brendan Walsh-trained filly was second-best in the Test, the connections are ready to return Pretty Mischievous to two-turn races with the $1 million Cotillion Stakes (G1) at Parx Racing Sept. 23 next on her agenda.

"She came out of the Test in good shape and the timing to the Cotilion is good. It was an unfortunate circumstance but she's doing well and we found out some things about her," Banahan said about what turned out to be a victory by a head over 17-1 shot Clearly Unhinged . "We believed she got enough pace at seven furlongs but at the end of the day she was out of her comfort zone the whole way. She doesn't have seven-furlong speed. You have to tip your hat to her. Even though the race didn't suit her, she hung in there and gave a good account of herself.

"We won't do that again. We'll keep her at a mile and over but we were proud of her. She ran as good of a race as you could expect. Obviously, if the other filly didn't get hurt we would have been a gallant second."

Banahan, Walsh, and the rest of the Godolphin team displayed an enormous amount of compassion and class after the Test, saying they did not feel it would be appropriate to have any type of winner's circle ceremony. The following morning, Walsh then brought the winner's floral blanket to a grieving Melanie Giddings, Maple Leaf Mel's trainer.

"It was a very difficult situation and no one was in a mood to celebrate," Banahan said. "You felt so bad you just wanted to get away from celebrations at that moment. Anyone who was there will not forget that moment for a very long time. (Maple Leaf Mel) was the best filly there. It was a brutal day for everyone connected with the sport."