Critical Value, Risky Mischief give Englehart big look at Bouwerie Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – Two weeks after trainer Jeremiah Englehart won the Mike Lee Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds, he will take two shots to win Sunday’s $100,000 Bouwerie Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-old females at Belmont Park.

Englehart brings Critical Value and Risky Mischief back to the races off extended layoffs in the Bouwerie, run on dirt at seven furlongs. Critical Value, a daughter of Bodemeister, won the Maid of the Mist Stakes last October going a mile here before finishing her 2-year-old campaign with a fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes at 1 1/8 miles in December at Aqueduct.

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Risky Mischief, a daughter of Into Mischief out of the six-time stakes-winning mare Risky Rachel, won her debut last July at Saratoga by 7 1/2 lengths before running sixth of seven in the Grade 1 Spinaway on Sept. 1. She has not run since.

Both fillies spent the winter at Oaklawn Park. Englehart said that toward the end of that meet Critical Value “got a little sour on me.”

“I got her back to Belmont and she seemed like she picked it up,” he said.

Englehart said Critical Value’s feet were bugging her at Oaklawn, but they appear to be fine now.

Junior Alvarado, aboard for both of Critical Value’s wins last year, is reunited with the filly on Sunday, and they will break from the rail.

Risky Mischief appeared to develop ulcers late last summer, which may have impacted her performance in the Spinaway. Englehart believes Risky Mischief is now “the best I’ve had her.”

Risky Mischief is one of several in here with early speed.

“I think she’ll be able to use her speed a little easier in a seven-eighths race,” Englehart said.

Jose Ortiz rides Risky Mischief from post 4.

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Courageous Girl finished second to Ice Princess at odds of 34-1 in the Maddie May Stakes going a one-turn mile Feb. 23 at Aqueduct.

“She probably wants a mile or further, but she’s a 3-year-old filly with no place to run her,” trainer David Donk said. “She ran such a big race last time. It was a huge improvement off the rest of her efforts. It surprised all of us. This will be a good testing ground to see where she’s at.”

Dylan Davis rides Courageous Girl from post 5.

Big Q, winner of the Key Cents Stakes going six furlongs at Aqueduct last November, returns from a five-month layoff for trainer Gary Gullo.

“I think she’s doing very, very well,” Gullo said. “The only question I have with her is the seven-eighths. I don’t know if seven-eighths is her game. She really looks great. She’s filled out, her coat is good, her weight is good.”

Naked Avenger won the Joseph A. Gimma Stakes for New York-breds going seven furlongs last September. She was beaten 5 1/2 lengths by Critical Value in the Maid of the Mist. She was twice beaten in open-company allowance races at Gulfstream over the winter.

Ilchester Cheetah is 5 for 10 but has not run well in her two stakes tries.