Pretty Mischievous 'fit and ready to go' for Saturday's Test Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Brendan Walsh stood on the roof at Saratoga early Saturday morning to watch his top 3-year-old filly Pretty Mischievous put in her final work for next Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Test Stakes.

At first, Walsh wasn’t necessarily liking the view. But with the aid of a two-way radio, Walsh was able to communicate with jockey Tyler Gaffalione to ultimately get the work he wanted and have her ready for the race.

Pretty Mischievous went a half-mile in 50.07 seconds, getting her final quarter in 23.98 seconds and proceeded to gallop out five furlongs in 1:02.42 and six furlongs in 1:14.92 as Walsh communicated “keep going, keep going” to Gaffalione.

“She did go off a little slow on her own, but from the quarter pole out three-quarters was very good,” Walsh said. “She’s fit and ready to go.”

Pretty Mischievous has been fit and ready to go throughout her career. Pretty Mischievous has won six of eight career starts including the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks and the Grade 1 Acorn. Those races were run at 1 1/8 miles and 1 1/16-miles respectively. The Test represents a cutback to seven furlongs.

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“I love it,” Walsh said. “Her biggest asset is her cruising speed.”

Among her expected competition in the Test are Dorth Vader, second, beaten a head in the Acorn, Munnys Gold, fourth in the Acorn, undefeated Maple Leaf Mel, Jersey Pearl and Tappin Josie.

Munnys Gold, who won her first three starts by a combined 38 lengths but lost her next two, worked four furlongs in 48.40 seconds at Churchill Downs on Saturday. Trainer Todd Pletcher sent Munnys Gold back to Kentucky because the filly can be a bit headstrong and Churchill was “a better environment for her leading up to this,” he said.

Charge It, West Will Power breeze for Whitney

Charge It, winner of the Grade 2 Suburban, and West Will Power, winner of the Grade 1 Stephen Foster, both put in workouts Saturday morning at Saratoga in preparation for a start in next Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Whitney Stakes.

Charge It, working by himself over the main track, was credited with a half-mile time in 48.77 seconds, but looked super galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.80 and seven furlongs in 1:27.20.

“He worked like we’ve come accustomed to seeing him work, very effortlessly, efficiently,” trainer Todd Pletcher said.

Pletcher is hoping the Suburban, which he dominated by 4 3/4 lengths on July 2, “was an indication that he’s mentally putting it all together,” Pletcher said. “He’s physically always displayed top-level talent. Thought it’d be hard to criticize the Dwyer as a 3-year-old, I thought his last race was his most professional.”

Earlier in the morning, over the Oklahoma training track, West Will Power went five furlongs in 1:02.24 in company with Tapit Shoes. Trainer Brad Cox said he was especially impressed with West Will Power’s gallop out.

“That’s really always the best of his works,” Cox said. “Super-pleased with what we saw. Flavien [Prat] was aboard him and he breezed very well.”

Both Charge It and West Will Power have a tall task in the Whitney trying to defeat Cody’s Wish. But with Cody’s Wish having yet to prove himself at 1 1/8 miles, Cox said “this might be the best chance to upset him.”

Others expected for the Whitney are Smile Happy and Zandon.

Art Collector back to work

Art Collector, the Grade 1 Pegasus Invitational winner, worked a half-mile in 48.56 seconds Saturday morning, his first work since June 26. Art Collector worked in company with Provocateur, a graded stakes winner previously trained by Todd Pletcher who is a new addition to the Mott barn.

Art Collector is pointing to a three-peat bid in the Charles Town Classic on Aug. 25.

Art Collector was among the most high-profile horses who was provisionally suspended from racing by the Horseracing Integrity Welfare Unit for a month because he had worked within seven days of being injected.

“I wasn’t trying to get by with anything, I just didn’t think about their stupid rule,” Mott said.

The horse would have come off the list in time to run in the Monmouth Cup on July 22, but Art Collector had an abscess on a hind foot.

“I missed five or six days with him,” Mott said.

*** War Like Goddess, among the final workers Saturday morning, breezed a half-mile in 48.34 seconds over the Oklahoma training track. She was entered in next Thursday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Glens Falls Stakes.

*** Verifying, the Indiana Derby winner, worked a half-mile in 48.75 seconds Saturday morning. He is being pointed to the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens, trainer Brad Cox said.

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