Mia Mischief benefits from key scratch in Carousel Stakes

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The fillies and mares lining up for the $150,000 Carousel at Oaklawn Park on Saturday have caught a break – Amy’s Challenge will be scratched from the race to run the same afternoon at Keeneland in the Madison. The defection leaves a field of five, led by Grade 2 winner Mia Mischief and five-time stakes winner Ours to Run. Others set to start in the six-furlong race are Shanghai Tariff, Salt Bae, and World Riot.

Amy’s Challenge would have been imposing after a pair of dominant stakes wins at Oaklawn. Trainer Mac Robertson said the appeal of the Madison is a Grade 1 opportunity for the sharp filly, and after she avoided drawing the rail post – which did not serve her well last year at Keeneland – the decision was made to run in the Madison.

Carousel (Race 9)

KEY CONTENDERS

Mia Mischief, by Into Mischief
Last 3 Beyers: 88-75-90

◗ She launched her 4-year-old season at Oaklawn in an optional $62,500 claiming sprint March 3, stalking the pace before moving on to a three-length win over a field that included next-out stakes winner Pretty Greeley.

“That was very satisfying to see her win so comfortably because of how hard every one of her races was last year,” said Steve Asmussen, who trains Mia Mischief for Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt.

◗ Mia Mischief was a two-time stakes winner last year at 3, taking the Grade 2 Eight Belles at Churchill Downs and the Purple Martin at Oaklawn. She ran second in three other stakes, including the Dixie Belle at Oaklawn, in which she was beaten a neck by Amy’s Challenge, and the Grade 1 Test at Saratoga, in which she was beaten a neck by Separationofpowers.

“She’s very aggressive, was in the dogfight in her races, ran hard every step of the way,” Asmussen said. “I think of the Test and just how she fought back so hard the whole way.

“She is so special that she can muster that much effort as many times as she did for us last year. For her to have a nice, smooth first race back was very satisfying.”

◗ Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount from post 3.

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Ours to Run, by Half Ours
Last 3 Beyers: 81-88-89

◗ She is seeking her fifth consecutive stakes win after stringing together four Louisiana-bred stakes victories from last May through February.

◗ Ours to Run has been flattered since the $100,000 Premier Night Matron on Feb. 9 at Delta Downs, as four horses she defeated came back in their next starts to win optional-claiming races.

◗ Terry Thompson, aboard Ours to Run for a five-furlong work in 1:02.20 on Monday at Oaklawn, has the mount for trainer Larry Jones.