Mischief Joke, Sweet Brown Sugar deserving favorites in stakes

The favorites look strong in both the $50,000 Ontario County Stakes and $50,000 Niagara Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds, the co-features on Monday’s program at Finger Lakes.

Although both races are six-furlong sprints, they could conceivably produce starters for two of the track’s biggest events next month – the $150,000 New York Derby and $75,000 New York Oaks, both at 1 1/16 miles on July 15. With no other dirt sprint stakes for the divisions this summer, New York-bred 3-year-olds will either need to switch surfaces or move to two turns at Saratoga.

Mischief Joke stands out in the six-horse Ontario County, based both on his class and his tactical versatility that should allow him to adjust to pace scenarios or even control the tempo. The colt finished third in last year’s New York Breeders’ Futurity, the richest race at Finger Lakes. This year, running in restricted stakes on the New York Racing Association circuit, he won the Rego Park and finished second in the Damon Runyon while sprinting. He most recently finished fifth in the Mike Lee Stakes going seven furlongs June 9 at Saratoga, his first start in more than two months, and should be tighter in this race for trainer Mike Maker.

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Two others in the field are stakes-placed. Aelfgar was third in the Damon Runyon, but is still a maiden after eight starts. Benji Brown won his debut at Finger Lakes before finishing third in the Tin Cup Chalice Stakes. He is winless in two starts this year, both allowance races against older horses.

While Mischief Joke is the morning-line favorite, Stars N Stones should show the way early from post 2 and is a threat as he makes his stakes debut. He has not finished worse than second in three career starts, all while racing against older open company at Finger Lakes. Maiden special weight winner Smile Takes Charge and maiden-claiming winner Hay Hay Harry complete the field.

Sweet Brown Sugar is the heavy favorite in the Niagara. She is well drawn on the rail under Jeremias Flores to flash her early foot. The filly won both starts last year at Finger Lakes, including the Shesastonecoldfox Stakes.

She returns to the track having won back-to-back races at Aqueduct, taking an allowance/optional-claiming race by 4 1/2 lengths before rolling in the East View Stakes by four lengths. That outing, on March 17, was her most recent race, but she shows multiple bullet works at Finger Lakes as she prepares to return to the races for Paul Barrow.

Sweet Brown Sugar is the only stakes winner in the Niagara’s six-horse field. The maiden special weight winners A Thousand Plans and Dorth’s Sol Dancer, maiden-claiming winner Love Thyself, and the maidens Dreamery and Sevens Up complete the lineup.

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