Moonlit Mischief, Mr. Impossible should improve off recent losses

The 4-year-old colt Mr. Impossible and 2-year-old filly Moonlit Mischief were handily beaten in their lone start of the Del Mar summer meeting earlier this month, losses that trainer Simon Callaghan thinks they can avenge.

While Mr. Impossible was sixth in an allowance race and Moonlit Mischief was third in a maiden special weight race, Callaghan saw enough promise to expect winning efforts when they start in similar races at Los Alamitos on Saturday.

Mr. Impossible and Moonlit Mischief are entered in two of the top races on a 10-race program without a stakes. The $75,000 Los Alamitos Special was canceled after failing to draw sufficient entries on Wednesday.

Moonlit Mischief, who is part of a field of six in a seven-furlong maiden race for 2-year-old fillies, will be ridden by Ramon Vazquez, Callaghan said. Mike Smith was named to ride, but will be at Parx Racing in Pennsylvania on Saturday.

In her debut on Sept. 4, Moonlit Mischief closed from fifth in a field of seven to finish third by 7 1/4 lengths behind Huntingcoco, who won by 6 3/4 lengths.

“I thought she got a good schooling out of that race,” Callaghan said of Moonlit Mischief. “She made a run at the end. I think if she had broke better or had an outside post, I’m not saying she would have won, but she would have been closer.”

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Carla, a $950,000 yearling purchase who was second in front of Moonlit Mischief on Sept. 4 at 2-5, drew the inside for Saturday’s race and figures to be favored for trainer Bob Baffert.

Callaghan said Moonlit Mischief has progressed since her debut.

“She’s come out of that race well and trained forwardly,” he said. “We have a good post. I think we have a pretty decent shot.”

The field includes Bye Bye Buggsy and Loana, who were fourth and fifth in a maiden special weight race at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar on Aug. 25 and were unlucky not to be better-placed after encountering trouble.

Trainer John Sadler starts Electric Glide, who was a well-beaten third behind Home Cooking in a maiden special weight race on Aug. 21 after a wide trip. Home Cooking was second in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 10.

Mr. Impossible was beaten six lengths in a seven-furlong race on Sept. 3 in his first start in more than 13 months. Saturday’s race will be run at a mile.

“This certainly looks like an easier spot,” Callaghan said. “He appears to have a very good chance. I think the mile is about right for him.”

The winner of a maiden special weight race at a mile in May 2021 in his fifth start, Mr. Impossible was later a well-beaten fourth in the Grade 3 Affirmed Stakes and second in an allowance race before he was sidelined.

On Saturday, Mr. Impossible is part of a field of six that includes Resultant, who was fourth in an allowance race at 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar on Aug. 20 for trainer Phil D’Amato.

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