Flash of Mischief romps in Ring the Bell

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Flash of Mischief won his first race out of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint in overwhelming fashion Saturday when he rolled to a 7 3/4-length victory in the $150,000 Ring the Bell at Oaklawn Park.

Kavod finished second, while it was another 2/14 lengths back in third to Chattalot.

The win was one of four on the card for jockey Cristian Torres, whose other victories included the $150,000 Mistletoe with Lovely Ride ($11.40).

The Ring the Bell was the first of nine new stakes to be run this meet at Oaklawn, which opened Friday. The six-furlong race was for 3-year-olds and up. It was run on a surface that was sloppy to start the card and took a large amount of rain throughout the day.

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Flash of Mischief ($5) finished ninth in the Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 5 at Keeneland, one start after winning the David M. Vance Stakes at Remington Park. In the Ring the Bell, he was content to sit just behind dueling leaders Kavod and Chattalot, who raced off the rail through fractions of 22.47 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.25 for the half-mile.

Torres moved Flash of Mischief, who broke from the rail, to the outside of the leaders into the stretch and his mount proceeded to open up on the field, while covering the distance in 1:11.13.

“I think he’s the first to win from the inside today,” winning trainer Karl Broberg said. “The jock did a good job getting him off the rail turning for home.

“I think we're okay staying on this path of keeping him in sprints.”

Flash of Mischief, who is a multiple stakes winner at two turns, had turned back from 1 1/8 miles for the David M. Vance in September and won with a flourish, while earning a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 104. The decision was made to send him to the Breeders’ Cup, but even before that call was made, Broberg said the Ring the Bell was a goal for Flash of Mischief.

Broberg said the sprint series at Oaklawn is now the goal for the horse. He said provided Flash of Mischief emerges from Saturday’s race in good order, he will be pointed to the next race in the series, the $150,000 King Cotton on Jan. 28.

Flash of Mischief is a son of Into Mischief who races for his breeder, Jerry Namy. He has now won 9 of 23 starts and earned $774,901. Flash of Mischief's victories include the St. Louis Derby.

Lovely Ride wins Mistletoe

Torres was back in the winner’s circle two races later, when he guided Lovely Ride to a wire-to-wire win in the $150,000 Mistletoe. She won the one-mile race for fillies and mares by 3 1/2 lengths over Coach, while it was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third to Will’s Secret.

Lovely Ride took the field through fractions of 23.97 seconds for the opening quarter, 48.20 for the half-mile and 1:13.78 for six furlongs. She went on to win the race that ended at the sixteenth pole, or first wire, in 1:39.77.

Lovely Ride is a daughter of Candy Ride who races for the partnership of John Holleman, Flying P Stable and Larry Nafe. She has now won 6 of 14 starts and earned $419,848.

Torres rode Lovely Ride for trainer Robertino Diodoro, one of two winners he had on the card for the barn. Torres said both Diodoro and Broberg have been strong supporters, helping him have a memorable season at Remington Park and now, a fast start at Oaklawn.

“I’m grateful to them,” he said.

Torres has a double-digit lead in the rider standings at Remington, which closes next Saturday. He is now based at Oaklawn.

Torres is a 25-year-old who was born in Puerto Rico. He began riding in 2019.

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