Belmont Park: Mischief Maker returning in Dancing Renee Stakes on Showcase Day

ELMONT, N.Y. – It wasn’t easy for trainer Bruce Brown to put Mischief Maker away after the filly recorded two impressive victories in a month’s time during the winter.

But after Mischief Maker went virtually nonstop for nine months, Brown felt giving that daughter of Cape Town a break would give her the best chance at success in the second half of the year. Mischief Maker returns Saturday in the $100,000 Dancing Renee Stakes going seven furlongs at Belmont Park.

The Dancing Renee, which goes as race 7 on the 10-race program, is one of seven stakes restricted to New York-breds on the card. A field of seven was entered for the Dancing Renee, but morning-line favorite Sunny Desert will not run after pulling a muscle following a recent morning training session, according to her trainer, John Parisella.

Mischief Maker had been a bit of disappointment to Brown early in her career, but she came to hand last winter with a pair of seven-length wins over Aqueduct's inner track.

“She finally got to where she showed us what we thought she had all along,” Brown said.

Brown believes the time off has done Mischief Maker well, and he has been impressed with her morning training leading up to her return.

“She’s come back great, really better than ever,” Brown said. “She seemed like she really thrived with the time off. Hopefully, we’ll have a big year. This probably isn’t her ideal distance. In the beginning part of last year she probably wouldn’t have had a shot going seven furlongs. But the way she ran her last two races and the way she’s trained coming up to it I still think she’s got a shot.”

Cornelio Velasquez rides Mischief Maker from post 4.

Miss Valentine, Clear Pasaj and Lady On the Run – the first three finishers from the May 10 No Reason Stakes – are all back in this spot, shortening up from a mile to seven furlongs while running back in three weeks.

Miss Valentine, trained by Christophe Clement, returned off a five-month layoff to win the No Reason, her third consecutive victory.

“Even if I’m running her back quick I would be disappointed if she bounced,” Clement said. “She’s won from six furlongs to a mile. She’s very competitive and versatile.”

Clear Pasaj, trained by Bruce Levine, did very well to be second in the No Reason, her first time attempting a distance beyond six furlongs. She will likely be the horse to catch under Jose Ortiz. She has a 2-2-0 record from 4 starts at Belmont.

Lady On the Run, who figures to be flying late, has done her best work at Belmont, with a 3-3-2 record from 8 starts here.

Beautiful But Blue, who hasn’t run since last November, and Great Gracie Dane complete the field.