On February 18, all eyes were on the seasonal debut of Hoosier Philly in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (USA-G2) at the Fair Grounds. The highly touted daughter of Into Mischief was 3-for-3 going into the race, her brief career highlighted by an impressive win in last November’s Golden Rod Stakes (USA-G2). She was so highly regarded that in some quarters the talk was of a start in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (USA-G1) rather than the Longines Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1), but she bobbled at the start and was never really in the hunt. Instead, another daughter of Into Mischief who had raced in the Golden Rod got the job done as Pretty Mischievous outgamed 13-1 long shot Miracle to win by three-quarters of a length. The final time was 1:45.15 on a fast track.
Pretty Mischievous went into the Rachel Alexandra with a 3-for-4 mark, with her only loss being her third-place finish behind Hoosier Philly in the Golden Rod. She came out sitting atop the standings for a starting slot in the Kentucky Oaks, ahead of UAE Oaks (UAE-G3) heroine Mini Kakushi, American champion 2-year-old filly Wonder Wheel, and Hoosier Philly, who occupy the next three places.
Like Hoosier Philly, Pretty Mischievous is the result of the burgeoning cross of Into Mischief over Tapit mares. The Tapit mare involved in her case is 2016 Spinaway Stakes (USA-G1) winner Pretty City Dancer, who scored a dead-heat victory in Saratoga’s marquee event for 2-year-old fillies with the similarly sired Sweet Loretta. Pretty City Dancer failed to win as a 3-year-old, though she did run second in the Forward Gal Stakes (USA-G2), and was retired after that season. Pretty Mischievous is her second foal. She was barren in 2021 and produced a Medaglia d’Oro filly in 2022.
Pretty City Dancer is from the family of So Social, a winning daughter of 1958 American champion 3-year-old male Tim Tam. A half sister to 1962 Discovery Handicap winner Comic (by Tom Fool) and produced from a Blenheim II half sister to two-time Saratoga Cup winner Busanda (dam of 1966 American Horse of the Year Buckpasser), So Social produced five stakes winners from 14 foals, among them Grade 3 winners Ward McAllister (by Bold Ruler) and Social Business (by Private Account).
Snobishness, So Social’s 1970 daughter by Forli, won the Prix de Chenettes and was Group 3-placed. She produced Italian Group 3 winner Oh So Snobish (by Quadratic) and multiple English stakes winner Oh So Choosy (by Top Command). She is also the dam of Quexine (by Sir Gaylord), a multiple stakes producer in Italy, and of Pretty Special (by Riverman), who came up with the family’s first Grade 1 winner in 1988 Bernard Baruch Handicap (USA-G1) winner My Big Boy (by Our Hero) as well as multiple listed stakes winner Forever Command (by Top Command). Pretty Special’s most important daughter has been Pretty City (by Carson City), who produced both Pretty City Dancer and 2007 Gazelle Stakes (USA-G1) winner Lear’s Princess (by Lear Fan).
Pretty Mischievous is in a strong position to make the Oaks at this point and seems as well advanced as any of the other fillies that have stepped forward as possible Oaks contenders so far this year. Nonetheless, a final three-sixteenths of a mile in 32.10 off a less than lively pace is not inspiring, and speed figures suggest that Pretty Mischievous will need to step up her game substantially to be competitive in the Kentucky Oaks. This is not an uncommon situation for any Oaks hopeful at this time of year, and the race often goes to the filly showing the most improvement during the spring. On paper, Pretty Mischievous certainly has the genetics to make that improvement a possibility; whether she can actually do so will be revealed by more racing later in the season.
Pretty Mischievous went into the Rachel Alexandra with a 3-for-4 mark, with her only loss being her third-place finish behind Hoosier Philly in the Golden Rod. She came out sitting atop the standings for a starting slot in the Kentucky Oaks, ahead of UAE Oaks (UAE-G3) heroine Mini Kakushi, American champion 2-year-old filly Wonder Wheel, and Hoosier Philly, who occupy the next three places.
Like Hoosier Philly, Pretty Mischievous is the result of the burgeoning cross of Into Mischief over Tapit mares. The Tapit mare involved in her case is 2016 Spinaway Stakes (USA-G1) winner Pretty City Dancer, who scored a dead-heat victory in Saratoga’s marquee event for 2-year-old fillies with the similarly sired Sweet Loretta. Pretty City Dancer failed to win as a 3-year-old, though she did run second in the Forward Gal Stakes (USA-G2), and was retired after that season. Pretty Mischievous is her second foal. She was barren in 2021 and produced a Medaglia d’Oro filly in 2022.
Pretty City Dancer is from the family of So Social, a winning daughter of 1958 American champion 3-year-old male Tim Tam. A half sister to 1962 Discovery Handicap winner Comic (by Tom Fool) and produced from a Blenheim II half sister to two-time Saratoga Cup winner Busanda (dam of 1966 American Horse of the Year Buckpasser), So Social produced five stakes winners from 14 foals, among them Grade 3 winners Ward McAllister (by Bold Ruler) and Social Business (by Private Account).
Snobishness, So Social’s 1970 daughter by Forli, won the Prix de Chenettes and was Group 3-placed. She produced Italian Group 3 winner Oh So Snobish (by Quadratic) and multiple English stakes winner Oh So Choosy (by Top Command). She is also the dam of Quexine (by Sir Gaylord), a multiple stakes producer in Italy, and of Pretty Special (by Riverman), who came up with the family’s first Grade 1 winner in 1988 Bernard Baruch Handicap (USA-G1) winner My Big Boy (by Our Hero) as well as multiple listed stakes winner Forever Command (by Top Command). Pretty Special’s most important daughter has been Pretty City (by Carson City), who produced both Pretty City Dancer and 2007 Gazelle Stakes (USA-G1) winner Lear’s Princess (by Lear Fan).
Pretty Mischievous is in a strong position to make the Oaks at this point and seems as well advanced as any of the other fillies that have stepped forward as possible Oaks contenders so far this year. Nonetheless, a final three-sixteenths of a mile in 32.10 off a less than lively pace is not inspiring, and speed figures suggest that Pretty Mischievous will need to step up her game substantially to be competitive in the Kentucky Oaks. This is not an uncommon situation for any Oaks hopeful at this time of year, and the race often goes to the filly showing the most improvement during the spring. On paper, Pretty Mischievous certainly has the genetics to make that improvement a possibility; whether she can actually do so will be revealed by more racing later in the season.
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