By Jennifer Hoyt
Mia Mischief Wins Carousel Stakes; Long Weekend Takes Bachelor Stakes
Hot Springs, AR (Saturday, April 25, 2020) – Stonestreet Stables LLC’s Grade 1 winner Mia Mischief drew off impressively to win Saturday’s (April 25) $125,000 Carousel Stakes by 4 ½ lengths and in the process gave Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen his seventh victory in the race.
With regular rider Ricardo Santana Jr. in the irons, Mia Mischief sat right behind Amy’s Challenge through early fractions of :21 4/5 and :45 1/5 before assuming the lead around the turn for home. The winner completed the six-furlong race in 1:09 3/5 over a fast track. Lady Suebee overcame a rough trip to get third.
“Obviously, she’s a very talented mare,” Asmussen said. “She’s a Grade 1 winner. I think she’s better now than she’s ever been and we’re very fortunate to train her for Stonestreet Stables. She’s very special. Hopefully, we can see her in the Breeders’ Cup this fall. With her ability, that’s the path she should be on.”
Bellafina, the slight 6-5 favorite over Mia Mischief, got off a step slow from her rail position and never got into a comfortable spot, finishing fourth.
“That's kind of what we were all worried about, the #1 hole (post position),” jockey Joe Talamo said. “She always breaks a step slow and that definitely cost us today, especially drawing the 1 hole. If she would have drawn outside, it would have been a whole different scenario. It is what it is.”
Mia Mischief, a 5-year-old Into Mischief mare, improved her record to 10-6-1 in 21 starts and has now earned $1,215,234.
One race earlier, BCWT Ltd’s Long Weekend extended his win streak to three in a row with his front running victory in the $100,000 Bachelor Stakes.
Coming off a runaway victory in Oaklawn’s Gazebo Stakes March 21, Long Weekend once again shot to the lead, but this time had much more pressure as Echo Town stayed right at his throat latch through early fractions of :21 4/5 and :44 4/5 for the first half mile. The two 3-year-old colts were just a head apart at the wire, with the winner completing the six furlongs in 1:09 3/5 for six furlongs over a fast track. Lykan came from last for third. Eight Rings, the 4-5 favorite, was in contention early, but faded to fifth.
“That was a fun race,” winning trainer Tom Amoss said. “He broke super sharp and was engaged all the way from the top of the lane home. He showed a lot of determination, which is the sign of a good horse. I thought (jockey) Joe (Talamo) not only rode a smart race from the break, but was a very strong finisher on my horse and kept him going nicely. Any time you have a speed horse that hasn’t been challenged down the lane in his wins, and Long Weekend has not, you have to wonder what’s going to happen when that challenge comes that last portion of the race. I was really proud of him today.”
Long Weekend, by Majesticperfection, won for the fourth time in five starts and has now earned $193,928. Beau Oxy, Ginobili and Liam’s Pride scratched.
Ce Ce Wins Apple Blossom
Hot Springs, AR (Saturday, April 18, 2020) – Bo Hirsch, LLC’s lightly raced Ce Ce demonstrated she could eventually join the long list of champion females that have won Oaklawn’s signature race for older fillies and mares when she overcame post position 14 to win Saturday’s $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) by a head over Ollie’s Candy.
Ce Ce broke sharply and settled off the pace in fifth, while Ollie’s Candy took advantage of her rail position to battle Cookie Dough for the early lead through an opening quarter in :22 1/5. Ollie’s Candy had full control after a half mile in a crisp :45 3/5 and continued to hold the advantage to just before the wire, when Ce Ce got up to win the photo finish in a final time of 1:43 for 1 1/16 miles over a fast track. Point of Honor, who got shuffled back at the start, came from last to get third.
“That was great,” trainer Michael McCarthy said. “It was little hard for me to see through the shadows and stuff. I couldn’t tell if she was actually gaining on horses or what. They were rolling up front. We were in a great spot. That was a tough one (drawing post 14). Unfortunately, the horses I thought we had to beat were all directly inside of us and I thought best laid plans would have been if Serengeti Empress would go ahead and be the controlling speed. Things didn’t work out that way, obviously. The complexion of the race totally changed after that. We were able to sit in a perfect spot, three to four lengths off of them. I’m OK with it now. Had the photo been the other way, I probably wouldn’t have been OK with it.”
Street Band finished fourth and was followed by Saracosa, Horologist, Go Google Yourself, Lady Apple, Awe Emma, Queen Nekia, 2-1 favorite Serengeti Empress, Come Dancing, Coldwater and Cookie Dough.
Ce Ce, a 4-year-old homebred filly by Elusive Quality, improved her record to four wins from six starts and has now won $726,600.
