Strollsmischief gets a case of déjà vu with rail draw, off track for Rainbow

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – It’s looking like a little bit of déjà vu for Strollsmischief heading into the second start of his career Saturday in the $150,000 Rainbow Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

“We got the one-hole the first time out in the slop and he won, and here we go again,” trainer Dewaine Loy said. “We’ve got the one-hole again, and it’s probably going to be in the slop or muddy.”

The forecast for Saturday calls for a 98 percent chance of rain and a high 68 degrees, according to Accuweather. The Rainbow is a six-furlong race for 3-year-olds bred in Arkansas, and it is the feature on an 11-race card that begins at 12:45 p.m. Central.

Strollsmischief is part of a field of nine that includes a trio of capable runners from the barn of trainer Randy Morse – Seventies Music, Cattle Baron, and Sir Henry Oliver. The race also drew Lil Trick, who like Strollsmischief has more natural speed than most in the field Saturday.

Strollsmischief used his speed from the rail last out, when he darted to a four-length win on a sloppy, sealed track. The Beyer Speed Figure of 72 that he earned is the best career number in the Rainbow.

:: Live racing action at Oaklawn Park! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now.

“He’s quick,” Loy said. “He overcame the two big obstacles, and he did everything perfect. So, I really think he’s got a bright future.

“The last couple of months he’s been really, really professional. He’s maturing. He’s excited about being a racehorse.”

Strollsmischief might have a chance to slip away, as he broke sharply in his debut and his closest pace rival Saturday appears to be Lil Trick from post 7. Amir Mendoza has the mount on Strollsmischief, who is a son of Stroll and the Into Mischief mare Prompter.

“He’s almost 16 hands and he’s built like a bulldog,” Loy said. “He’s a little tank.”

Strollsmischief was bred by twin brothers David and Daniel Rogers. He will be racing for Daniel alone on Saturday following the passing last year of David. Loy said Strollsmischief’s debut win was a special one for the Rogers family, and his own family.

Seventies Music might be the chief threat to Strollsmischief. He was a five-length maiden special weight winner over older rivals last out and earned a Beyer of 70. The win came one start after Seventies Music ran third to Strollsmischief. He is one of three next-out winners to emerge from the debut race of Strollsmischief.

Rafael Bejarano has the mount on Seventies Music from post 8.

Lil Trick was a maiden winner over open company last time and since the race, two runners he defeated came back in their next starts to win maiden-claiming races at Oaklawn. Lil Trick could get a tracking kind of trip off Strollsmischief.

Instamania was second to Strollsmischief last out and is one of three maidens in the field Saturday. Instamania is son of Instagrand and the mare Skamania, who won eight races and earned more than $250,000.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.