Saratoga: Mischief Maker fresh and ready for Saratoga Dew

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A bit disappointing in three races since coming back from a layoff, Mischief Maker looks to return to her winter form when she heads a seven-horse field entered in Monday’s $100,000 Saratoga Dew Stakes at Saratoga.

The Saratoga Dew, at 1 1/8 miles, and the $100,000 Smart and Fancy, for fillies and mares at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf, top a 10-race card as the sixth week of the meet comes to a close.

Mischief Maker, a daughter of Cape Town, put in back-to-back major efforts over Aqueduct’s inner track last winter, including a score in the Swirlaway Stakes on Jan. 13. Both races were run around two turns.

Trainer Bruce Brown decided to put her away at that point to have a fresher horse for the summer and fall. Mischief Maker came back with a disappointing fifth in the Dancin Renee on June 1, an improved third in the Open Mind Stakes, and a disappointing sixth in the Princess Dixie, all races coming within five weeks.

Following a second freshening, Brown brings Mischief Maker back in a two-turn race, which he thinks might be the key to this filly.

“All last year I was dying to get her in going two turns, a mile and an eighth,” Brown said. “It seems not only the distance, but she just seems to like two turns better. She always does very good on the inner track at Aqueduct. She’s really training good leading into this. I’ve worked her three five-eighths, she’s gotten better each time. I’m expecting a big race out of her.”

Brown was thrilled to be able to secure the services of leading rider Javier Castellano.

Mischief Maker figures to be close or possibly on the lead. The race does seem to lack pace, though perhaps Lady On the Run could lay close stretching out from sprints.

Among the horses to fear in the race is Go Unbridled, who won this race last year for trainer Allen Jerkens after several disappointing efforts. She comes into the race off three disappointing efforts in 2013.

Dreaming of Cara, Shesabronxbomber, Tahoe Tigress, and Guyana Princess complete the field.

Smart and Fancy: My Jopia steps up

My Jopia seems to have found a niche as a turf sprinter and will get another opportunity to do just that in the $100,000 Smart and Fancy.

My Jopia is 2 for 3 in turf sprints, with a third-place finish to Stopshoppingmaria in an allowance race at Gulfstream in January. In her last start, on July 14, My Jopia won a second-level allowance at six furlongs by a neck over Sweet and Lovely, one of her rivals Monday.

“She’s training very good,” trainer Dominick Schettino said of My Jopia. “She’s over-ready. She was ready two weeks ago.”

Sweet and Lovely has lived in tough luck in her last two starts, missing by a half-length in a 1 1/16-mile race at Belmont and a neck going six furlongs at Belmont.

Rosa Salvaje may have set too fast a pace when finishing seventh in the Caress last out. Lion Down by Me, Promise Me a Cat, Roman Invader, and Jan’s Perfect Star complete the field.