My Prankster, Pletcher keep on winning, add Swale Stakes to list

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Todd Pletcher picked right up where he left off here a week ago - when he swept the final two stakes on the Pegasus World Cup card - by sending out My Prankster on Saturday to a popular half-length victory over Dean Delivers in the Grade 3 Swale, the first of five graded stakes on the Holy Bull program at Gulfstream Park.

My Prankster broke a step slow from the rail before rating near the rear of the six-horse field for the opening half-mile of the seven-furlong Swale. Jockey Luis Saez angled My Prankster four wide while sending him up to challenge the leaders on the final turn, gained command from Dean Delivers turning into the stretch, then held Dean Delivers at bay under strong handling.

Dean Delivers was well placed from the outset, rallied just inside the winner three wide turning for home, ran on gamely through the stretch but was not good enough. It was another 2 1/2 lengths back to Of a Revolution, who was easily best of the others. The tiring In Dreams, Graphic Detail and Mr. Bouma rounded out the order of finish.

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The win was the second in a row and third in five starts for My Prankster, a 3-year-old son of Into Mischief, who completed the distance in 1:23.13 and paid $4.00. My Prankster earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure for the victory.

“My biggest concern was drawing the 1 post, and it took him a little while to get in the clear, you could see he wasn’t loving the kick back,” Pletcher said. “Once he got in the clear he found his rhythm and put in a big run around the turn. Luis (Saez) said he might have got there (to the lead) a little soon and he kind of idled, but it was a good effort.”

Pletcher said My Prankster has been a consistent horse while admitting he was still not sure what his optimum distance may be just yet.

“This time of year, you might try something, maybe,” Pletcher said when asked about stretching My Prankster out in his next start, possibly around two turns.

Girl With a Dream wins Forward Gal

Saez used a different modus operandi with the same results a couple of hours later in the Swale’s filly counterpart, the $100,000 Forward Gal, guiding Louisiana invader Girl With a Dream to a wire-to-wire, one-length victory over the unlucky and heavily favored Radio Days in the Grade 3 dash for 3-year-old fillies.

Girl With a Dream was allowed to set very reasonable fractions on the lead, an opening quarter- and half-mile in 22.85 and 45.73 seconds, settled into the stretch well clear of the field before holding safe Radio Days when roused to the wire. The latter was steadied back to last after the break, advanced steadily from outside horses on the turn, moved within striking distance a furlong from the wire, but could not sustain her bid. It was another 6 1/4 lengths farther back to Last Leaf, who rallied from last to finish a non-threatening third.

Girl With a Dream is trained by Brad Cox for the partnership of Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister. She covered seven panels in 1:23.42 and paid a seemingly generous $12.80 despite entering the race off two consecutive victories.

Girl With a Dream earned an 86 Beyer Speed Figure.

“She broke and she was pretty comfortable all the way,” Saez said. “We came to the top of the stretch and I felt like I had a lot of horse. She kept battling, and she beat them. I felt like every step, when the other filly (Radio Days) came close to her, she responded more.”

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