Pretty Mischievous confirmed for Acorn
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ELMONT, N.Y. – Pretty Mischievous, the Kentucky Oaks winner, arrived in New York earlier this week and will make her next start in Friday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Acorn Stakes, trainer Brendan Walsh said.
The New York Racing Association lengthened the Acorn from its traditional one-mile distance to 1 1/16 miles this year. While Walsh said Pretty Mischievous likely would have run had the Acorn remained at a mile, he doesn’t mind the added distance.
“I think it’s a great spot for her, the one turn 1 1/16 mile looks like it would be something that would set up very well for her,” Walsh said. “We were always kind of keen on if things went well in the Oaks, [the Acorn] was going to be our next spot.”
Pretty Mischievous, owned by Godolphin Racing, is 5 for 7 in her career. Prior to the Kentucky Oaks, she won the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra and finished second to Southlawn in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks.
Walsh planned to breeze Pretty Mischievous over Belmont’s main track on Saturday morning.
Trainer Chad Brown is planning to run at least three in the Acorn and possibly as many as five. Accede, Occult, and Randomized are his expected runners. Interpolate and Shidabhuti are also nominated. All five put in workouts over the Belmont main track Friday morning.
Dorth Vader, who won the Davona Dale and ran fifth in the Kentucky Oaks, worked five furlongs in 1:01.59, per Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch, over Belmont’s main track Friday morning. Dorth Vader, in the Acorn, will be making her first start for trainer George Weaver.
Trainer Todd Pletcher is planning to run Frosty O Toole and is also considering running Munny’s Gold, who suffered her first career defeat in the Eight Belles at Churchill Downs.
Goodgirl Badhabits, who has won her first two starts by a combined 23 lengths for trainer Brittany Russell, is also expected.
Entries for the Acorn, which was moved from the Belmont card to the day before, will be taken Sunday.
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