Prank shows she should be taken seriously

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Prank looks to be a serious racehorse.

A half-sister to Belmont Stakes winner Mo Donegal, Prank used speed her brother does not possess to blitz a field of 2-year-old maidens by 9 1/2 lengths Sunday at Saratoga. Under Irad Ortiz Jr., Prank ran a quarter in 21.91 seconds, a half-mile in 45.11 and covered 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.94 while wrapped up. She earned a 91 Beyer Speed Figure.

“She had trained like she would run well first time out, she’s been a consummate professional since the day she walked in the door,” winning trainer Todd Pletcher said. “She looks fast and is a half-sister to a Belmont winner so … exciting.”

Both Prank and Mo Donegal are out of the Pulpit mare Callingmissbrown. Mo Donegal, a son of Uncle Mo, ran third in his debut sprinting before winning his maiden going 1 1/16 miles. Prank is by Into Mischief.

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“She’s all Into Mischief,” Pletcher said. “When you look at her, she obviously looks like her stallion.”

Prank is owned by a partnership that includes StarLadies Racing, LNJ Foxwoods and Gainesway Stable. She was purchased for $500,000 as a yearling at the Keeneland September 2021 sale.

Pletcher said he believes Prank will stretch out in distance and only debuted her at 5 1/2 furlongs because he wanted to get one more gate work into her before running.

“That’s why we landed on this race,” he said. “I would think a race like the Spinaway would be high on the radar.”

The Grade 1 Spinaway, a seven-furlong race, is scheduled for Sept. 4.

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