Elsa Lorieul / NYRA Photo

More Mischief makes trouble for field in capturing Biogio's Rose

by Brian Bohl

Wise Racing's More Mischief overtook 3-5 favorite Newly Minted with a strong stretch-drive outside move and powered home a 2 ½-length winner in Sunday's $100,000 Biogio's Rose for New York-bred fillies and mares 4-years-old and up at Aqueduct Racetrack.

More Mischief captured her first stakes and third victory in her last four starts overall for trainer Chad Brown with a patient start under jockey Manny Franco, who sat the 4-year-old Into Mischief mare in fourth position as Newly Minted led the seven-horse field through an opening quarter-mile in 23.86 seconds and the half in 46.98 on the fast main track.

Heading out of the turn, Franco urged More Mischief up, where she passed No Hayne No Gayne as Newly Minted continued her strong surge near the rail. The duo linked up in the final furlong before More Mischief gained separation and continued strong to the wire, completing the one-turn mile in 1:38.20.

"My instructions were to keep her in the clear. I made sure I broke good and let the horses on the outside clear me. She was nice and comfortable, just like last time," said Franco, who notched his third win on the day. "The speed helped us a little bit. The favorite was on the lead and was a little bit pressured, so I was able to stalk them. When I made my move, I had a lot under me and my filly responded really well." 

Bred by Anlyn Farms, More Mischief entered off a stellar 4-year-old bow in which she won a one-mile allowance contest by 7 ¾ lengths on January 12 at the Big A. Off at 3-1, she returned $8.10 on a $2 win wager, improving her career bankroll to $237,743.

"She seems to like Aqueduct and relished the stretch out to a mile," said Dan Stupp, assistant to Brown. "Manny did a great job with getting her to relax and get comfortable. She did the rest from there. He got to know her last time and just replicated what he did in her last race, and it worked out great today."

Purchased for $350,000 at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Florida Select Sale, More Mischief won an allowance race by 2 ¼ lengths on August 17 at Saratoga, the lone victory in her 3-year-old year. With all of her victories on the NYRA circuit, Stupp said More Mischief could remain in the Empire State.

"I think she'll remain in New York for now. I don't know what Chad's long-term plans are with her, but he'll figure that out with her owners and we'll go from there," he said.

Newly Minted, a three-time stakes winner, moved to 5-2-1 in nine career starts for trainer Linda Rice, besting No Hayne No Gayne by 3 ¼ lengths for runner-up honors.

"She fought the whole way," said Newly Minted jockey Jose Lezcano. "First, the eight [Held Accountable] came to her and then the four [No Hayne No Gayne] came to her, but she kept fighting. The winner came late and caught me at the wire."

Espresso Shot, Our Super Nova, Mrs. Orb and Held Accountable completed the order of finish. Out of Orbit was scratched.

Sunday's nine-race card at Aqueduct Racetrack saw a mandatory payout in the Empire 6 of $89,266.80. The Empire 6 requires the bettor to select the first-place finisher of the final six races of the card. On non-mandatory payout days, if one unique ticket exists, then 100% of the net pool, plus the jackpot carryover if applicable, will be paid to the winner. If there is no unique wager selecting the first-place finisher in all six races, then 75% of the day's net pool will be distributed to those who selected the first-place finisher in the greatest number of races. The remainder will be added into the jackpot and carried to the next day's Empire 6.

Live racing resumes Friday at Aqueduct with a nine-race card with first post at 1 p.m. Eastern.