Mischevious Alex will move on to a Grade 1 following Gulfstream Sprint victory

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Mischevious Alex likely earned himself another shot against Grade 1 company after rallying from just off the pace to a very popular 3 1/4-length victory over Frosted Grace in Saturday’s $100,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint. The Grade 3 event scratched down from seven to just four starters.

The Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint was the penultimate leg in a mandatory Rainbow 6 sequence that paid $17,215.86 for all six winners.

Mischevious Alex broke well and prompted the early pace set by Cajun Brother while briefly in tight quarters in the run down the backstretch. But under confident handling by Irad Ortiz Jr., Mischevious Alex was able to stick his head in front after a half-mile and resist a mild challenge from Frosted Grace before edging away with complete authority at the end.

Frosted Grace raced well-placed throughout, loomed a threat in early stretch but proved no match for the winner while never changing off his left lead down the lane. He finished a half-length better than the tiring Cajun Brother, with the slow-starting Wind of Change checking in fourth and last.

The Gulfstream Park Sprint gave Mischevious Alex, who is owned by Cash is King LLC and LC Racing LLC, his third Grade 3 victory. He also won the Gotham and Swale last year with trainer John Servis. He was transferred to trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.’s barn near the end of his 3-year-old campaign.

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Mischevious Alex completed six furlongs over the fast track in 1:09.55 and paid $2.80.

“I was a little concerned going into the race when it scratched down to a small field,” said Joseph. “I was scared of the 6 (Wind of Change) because I thought he might get loose on the lead. But it worked out well and he got the job done and I’m thankful of that.

“I was happy how he broke but for that brief moment it looked like he was in a little tight, and I didn’t want Irad to lose his position, and he did a great job maintaining his spot. After that I felt pretty good. He’s the kind of horse who is going to get stronger at the end, and thankfully he kicked on.”

Joseph said the Grade 1 Carter at Aqueduct on April 3 is the primary goal, although he added the Dubai Golden Shaheen on March 27 at Meydan was still under consideration.

Leinster by a neck in Gulfstream Turf Sprint

Leinster ran down the pacesetting High Crime in the final strides to register a hard-earned neck decision in the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint while making his first start since a third-place finish three months earlier in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

With Luis Saez aboard, Leinster broke alertly before easing back off the early leaders, as High Crime set the pace while pressed by Inter Miami from. Leinster tipped three wide to commence his bid into the stretch, ultimately wearing down a stubborn High Crime under vigorous urging at the end.

High Crime set the pace nearest the inside, shook off Inter Miami to open a clear lead after a half, dug in gamely but could not fend off the winner’s final surge. Harry’s Ontheloose rallied mildly to best the others.

The five-furlong Gulfstream Turf Sprint was Leinster’s sixth victory in 24 career starts and fourth graded stakes win over the past 18 months. Trained by George “Rusty” Arnold, Leinster completed the distance in 55.29 seconds over the firm course and paid $2.80.

“I liked the way he did it,” said Arnold. “Luis [Saez] took him back, it looked for a second there like he wasn’t going to get there, but he hit that gear. He was giving a lot of weight. It’s a little shorter (distance) than he wants, but he overcame it. I’m proud of him. It was a good way to star [(the year].”

Arnold said Leinster, who carried 124 pounds while conceding six pounds to his six rivals in the Turf Sprint, is nominated to the Grade 1, $1 million Al Quoz at Meydan on March 27.

“He’s invited to the race in Dubai, if everything were to go good that could be a big possibility,” said Arnold. “If not, he’ll run at Keeneland [in the Grade 2 Shakertown] on opening day. I know it [the Al Quo] is a three-quarters straightaway sprint. I think that’s the limit of his distance. He hasn’t done it, but I think he will.”