Perfect-trip Make Mischief gets jump on Bank Sting in Critical Eye
ELMONT, N.Y. - In a race that figured to come down to two horses, Make Mischief took advantage of a better trip to beat Bank Sting in Monday’s $200,000 Critical Eye Stakes at Belmont Park.
Sitting a close-up second under Dylan Davis, Make Mischief, the 8-5 second choice, took over from the pacesetting Mashnee Gil turning for home and cruised to a four-length victory over favored Bank Sting in the one-mile race for New York-bred fillies and mares. It was five lengths back to Mashnee Girl in third.
Secret Love finished fourth, followed, in order, by Maiden Beauty, Love and Love, and Laobanonaprayer.
The win was the sixth from 18 starts for Make Mischief, a 4-year-old daughter of Into Mischief owned by Gary Barber and trained by Mark Casse. It was her first stakes victory since she captured the Maddie May for New York breds as a 3-year-old in February 2021.
In the Grade 2 Ruffian here on May 8, Bank Sting finished fourth and Make Mischief fifth behind Search Results in a race run over a sealed, muddy track. The connections of both horses felt the wet surface hindered their chances.
Monday, Belmont’s main track was fast and the two fillies were back in statebred company.
Make Mischief, breaking from the outside post, dragged Davis to a contending position, sitting just off Mashnee Girl through a quarter in 23.26 seconds and a half-mile in 46.40. Bank Sting, ridden for the first time by Joel Rosario, broke sharp after balking at the gate, but then dropped back to fifth down the backside.
Make Mischief took over from Mashnee Girl turning into the lane and though Rosario got Bank Sting going she had too much to do and proved no match for Make Mischief.
Make Mischief covered the mile in 1:35.71 and returned $5.30 as the second choice.
Davis said with the wet track in the Ruffian, Make Mischief “just wasn’t comfortable. Today, back on a dry track again, being outside, clean air, she was very comfortable and she was there for me.”
Davis had ridden Bank Sting to three consecutive stakes victories, including the Heavenly Prize at Aqueduct in March. He chose to ride Make Mischief in the Ruffian and while that choice didn’t pay off that day, it did on Monday.
“Bank Sting’s a very nice filly, you can only ride one,” Davis said. “To be honest maybe I see a little more potential with Mischief, but they’re both very nice fillies.”
Rosario was riding Bank Sting for the first time. He had to get off her at the gate because Bank Sting was difficult to load, as has been her history. Down the backside, she dropped back four lengths, which enabled Make Mischief to get the jump when the running started.
“She had a little bit too much to do and let that filly get the jump,” said John Terranova, trainer of Bank Sting, who won this race last year. She likes to be in the fight and she’ll stay in it.”