Mischiefful okay on turf or dirt in Coronation Cup

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Ian Wilkes would really like to run Mischiefful on the turf. However, if weather forces Sunday’s $120,000 Coronation Cup for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga off the turf, well, that wouldn’t entirely make Wilkes upset.

“I know I can run on the dirt,” Wilkes said. “I wouldn’t mind running her on the grass. That’s what she’s going to love.”

The Coronation Cup is scheduled for 5 1/2 furlongs on turf. The ever-changing forecast in Saratoga has rain late Saturday and into Sunday, the amount of which is in question.

Mischiefful has made five starts, all on dirt. She is a daughter of Into Mischief out of the mare Shanon Nicole, who went 1 for 7 on turf.

Mischiefful was entered in an allowance race on turf on June 10 at Churchill Downs. The race came off the turf, and Mischiefful scored a front-running, 5 3/4-length victory over a fast main track, earning a career-best 91 Beyer Speed Figure.

“She’s never broke really great,” Wilkes said. “That day, she broke really good. She’s gotta break, that’s the key.”

Mischiefful showed an affinity for a wet track when she worked a sharp four furlongs in 47.60 seconds on Tuesday.

Goin’ Good, trained by Brad Cox, is coming off an allowance win going 5 1/2 furlongs on turf on June 12 at Churchill Downs. Tyler Gaffalione, aboard Goin’ Good for the first time that day, rides again Sunday.

“I thought it was a good effort, Tyler did a good job getting a position,” Cox said. “She can sometimes be a touch sluggish out of the gate, she kind of recovers quick.”

Cox pointed to Goin’ Good’s second to Toby’s Heart in a stakes at Keeneland in April as evidence she could handle a course with give in the ground.

“I wouldn’t be scared if it came off,” Cox said.

Trainer Christophe Clement has Honey Pants and Bye Bye entered for turf and Shop Girl for dirt. Clement said he would prefer not to run Honey Pants or Bye Bye on soft ground. He would be wheeling Shop Girl back in eight days off a last-place finish in the Blue Sparkler Stakes at Monmouth.

“She broke on top, the rider didn’t have a stick, and she just basically took herself out of the race,” Clement said. “I put a pair of blinkers on her and I’m putting her right back in.”

What a Trick, Wink, and Illegal Smile all show a preference for being on or close to the early lead.

Star Devine could benefit from a hot pace. She won her debut going six furlongs and is cutting back from a third going 1 1/16 miles.

“I think I like her in that spot,” trainer Jorge Abreu said. “I think the 5 1/2 furlongs is going to be good for her. They’re going to go pretty quick.”

Star Devine will be permitted to run because she is not stabled in Barn 86, a barn that Abreu has horses in which is under quarantine after a horse that was stabled in the barn was found to have equine herpesvirus.