Hernandez caps big day as Waves of Mischief wins Pucker Up

Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. capped a whirlwind weekend with a Sunday stakes double at Ellis Park, taking the Grade 3, $400,000 Pucker Up with Waves of Mischief and the $250,000 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Mile Preview aboard Walkathon.

The success came on the heels of a Saturday night in which he traveled to Louisiana to win the D.S. “Shine” Young Futurity at Evangeline Downs with the unbeaten Louisiana Jess. Hernandez had ridden Saturday afternoon in Kentucky and was aboard Maximum Promise, a 2-year-old who won a maiden special weight by 14 1/2 lengths at Ellis.

“It’s fun,” Hernandez said of his weekend in a post-race interview conducted by Ellis.

The track put on four stakes Sunday and the races were designed to produce starters for upcoming races at Kentucky Downs.

Waves of Mischief ($16.68) put in a determined bid through the stretch to catch Pin Up Betty after Pin Up Betty seized the lead on the backstretch and seemed home free as she set fractions of 48.37 for the half-mile and 1:11.83 for six furlongs. Waves of Mischief covered the 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-old fillies on firm turf in 1:47.50.

It was the first career stakes win for Waves of Mischief, a daughter of Into Mischief owned by Qatar Racing and trained by Brendan Walsh.

Waves of Mischief won by a head over Pin Up Betty. The race could produce starters for the Dueling Grounds Oaks at Kentucky Downs.

Walkathon ($5.74) edged Dana’s Beauty by a head, while it was another length back in third to She’s Lookin Lucky.

Hernandez said the opportunity to win the D.S. Shine Young Futurity at Evangeline fulfilled a childhood dream as Evangeline was his home track growing up. Earlier this year, the Churchill Downs-based jockey guided Mystik Dan to victory in the Kentucky Derby.

*** Jockeys Florent Geroux and Jose Ortiz were among a handful of riders off their mounts Sunday, and both had travel issues, according to a track official. Luan Machado rode at Saratoga, and won the Birdstone aboard his regular mount, Next.

Charcoal upsets Turf Sprint

Charcoal ($55.88) was a head winner over Arrest Me Red in a four-way cavalry charge to the wire in the $250,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Sprint, covering 5 1/2 furlongs on firm ground in a blazing 1:01.34. There was a dead heat for third between Mo Stash and Coppola.

Axel Concepcion was aboard the winner for trainer Tracey Wisner. Ron Dowdy bred and owns Charcoal, who is an 8-year-old son of English Channel.

“For me, he’s an 8-year-old veteran that still brings it every time,” Wisner said in a post-race interview conducted by Ellis.

Charcoal rallied into fractions of 21.03 seconds for the opening quarter and 43.34 for the half-mile, a tempo set by Outadore.

Charcoal is now 8 for 40 for earnings of $492,738.

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