Maximus Mischief All Class in Remsen

The connections of Maximus Mischief sent their contender to Aqueduct Racetrack Dec. 1 not only for a shot at the $250,000 Remsen Stakes (G2) but to get a better read on the talent level they felt sure the young colt possessed.

Consider those instincts correct.

The 2-year-old son of Into Mischief  built upon a solid foundation of two wins at Parx Racing with a frontrunning victory Saturday in his first graded test for Cash is King and LC Racing and trainer Robert "Butch" Reid. It was also his first try at the 1 1/8-mile distance, and if his 2 1/4-length Remsen margin is any indication, Maximus Mischief should hold the stamina to handle future hurdles on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Saturday's victory ranks him fifth on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 10 points earned from the first of five qualifying races at Aqueduct. 

"He came through in fine colors as far as I'm concerned," Reid said. "I was really concerned that it was a deep racetrack at Aqueduct. Parx is pretty deep, and maybe that's helped him a little bit. They've been running slow times down here. I watched the beginning of the card and I was hoping it was a little faster than that, but to go from seven-eighths to a mile and an eighth, especially the way he did it, is a pretty good accomplishment."

In the seven-furlong test Reid mentioned, Maximus Mischief was much the best Oct. 20 and won by six lengths. Running at 5 1/2 furlongs in his first start Sept. 29, he won by 8 3/4 lengths.

"Running short, he was always so sharp and keen, but Butch Reid did an awesome job getting him ready for this race," said jockey Frankie Pennington. "He broke well. Going into the first turn, he relaxed right back to me and put his ears up, and I knew he was going to be good today.

"He's the kind of horse that will do it easy by himself, but as soon as he feels the pressure, he becomes an even better horse. When he feels that fight coming, that's what he likes." 

Tax, a 17-1 shot, provided that fight for Maximus Mischief in the Remsen. After the eventual winner set easy fractions of :25.12 and :50.67 with Gladiator King in pursuit, Tax rolled up on the outside with an earnest challenge through three-quarters in 1:14.60. But some left-handed encouragement from Pennington and Maximus Mischief's inner drive were enough to turn back that rival, and Maximus Mischief held safe in a final time of 1:51.34. Sent off as the 7-5 second choice in a field of seven, he returned $4.80 on a $2 win ticket.

Network Effect, favored at even money off a runner-up finish in the Nov. 4 Nashua Stakes (G3), edged Tax for second by a half-length. The order of finish was completed by Bourbon War, Jungle Warrior, Gladiator King, and Chinomado.

Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano has been aboard for all three of Network Effect's starts.

"He ran good," Castellano said. "Unfortunately, I think the pace was too slow for him today. That's just the way the race developed. I'm not disappointed with my horse. I'm really satisfied with the way he did it, and I think he's a horse that has so much talent. He's getting confident with himself and that's the third time he's run, and I like the way he finished today. I think he's looking for a little more distance."

Bred in Kentucky by Martha Jane Mullholland out of the Songandaprayer mare Reina Maria, Maximus Mischief was originally purchased by Machmer Hall for $165,000 from Mullholland Springs' consignment to the 2016 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. After Maximus Mischief failed to sell as a yearling, Cary Frommer paid $150,000 privately and Machmer Hall retained a 25% interest, believing he was a very good horse. Frommer then sold a 25% share in the colt to Dogwood Stables founder Cot Campbell, who passed away Oct. 27 at the age of 91. She prepared Maximus Mischief for The Gulfstream Sale, but he failed to meet his reserve after coming up with a sore shin. After pin-firing the shin, Frommer consigned the colt to the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, and the partners were rewarded with a $340,000 purchase by Cash is King principal Chuck Zacney.

With the Remsen win, Maximus Mischief improved his earnings to $192,100 with a perfect three-race record.

"He runs the turns really well and he swaps leads really good, so that's generally where he gets the drop on them," Reid said. "The first thing Frank said when he came off the horse was that when he went into the first turn, (Maximus Mischief) pricked his ears and settled down. He hadn't had too many horses around him early in his career, but he wasn't worried about the horses inside or outside of him, so that's a really good sign."

Video: Remsen S. (G2)