Southern Mischief lives up to billing in First Lady Stakes
Southern Mischief was sent away as the favorite in her stakes debut, and pulled no tricks on her supporters, cruising to a 4 1/2-length score in the $75,000 First Lady Stakes for Ohio-bred 3-year-old fillies Saturday at Mahoning Valley. It was her fourth consecutive victory.
Blanconia stumbled at the start of the First Lady, but quickly recovered and led by a length through the opening quarter in 23.57 seconds. Meanwhile, Southern Mischief ($4.40) was away unhurried under Luis Colon, and circled the field under her own power to pull up alongside Blanconia's flank, a half-length behind through the half in 47.36. She gained the lead by upper stretch, and the outcome was never in doubt from there. The final time for the six furlongs was 1:12.73.
Blanconia, who has been first or second in her last seven starts, was second, 5 3/4 lengths clear of the rest of the field. Classical Music edged Sprinkle Time by a neck to round out the trifecta.
Southern Mischief, a daughter of Into Mischief, had just one runner-up effort to show from her first five starts, all in California, before she was purchased by owner Ron Paolucci and sent to trainer Jeff Radosevich in Ohio. Since then, she has won four straight races by a combined 24 1/2 lengths, graduating from maiden company and taking a pair of allowance races before the First Lady.