Pretty Mischievous

Spring Classic preparations kicked off bright and early Saturday morning at Keeneland with GI Toyota Blue Grass runner-up Ottinho (Quality Road) working in company for trainer Chad Brown despite being ruled out of the Kentucky Derby. Ottinho had been in consideration for the Derby but DRF's David Grening reported Saturday afternoon on X that Brown believed it was 'unlikely' the colt would go on to the spring marquee. The GI Preakness Stakes at Laurel May 16 or the GIII Peter Pan Stakes remain as targets later on. With his defection,...

It was a big weekend for trainer Brendan Walsh, whose Bella Ballerina (Street Sense) was a game winner of the GII Rachel Alexandra Stakes. A half-sister to Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief), the 2023 GI Kentucky Oaks winner, who was also trained by Walsh, the trainer is hoping to pull off what would be a unique daily double--winning the Oaks twice within four years with half-siblings. To discuss the Rachel Alexandra win, his take on Bella Ballerina and what he has planned on the way to the Oaks, Walsh joined this...

Trainer Brendan Walsh joined this week's TDN Writers' Room to discuss his undefeated 3-year-old filly Bella Ballerina after her win in the GII Rachel Alexandra Stakes. He also shares stories of the filly's Kentucky Oaks-winning half-sister, Pretty Mischievous, and some of his other favorite past trainees.

Horses obviously derive no comfort from the legacy they might leave. A stallion's reproductive ardor is presumably driven sooner by the means than the ends! In our own case, on the other hand, foreknowledge of mortality allows us to think about legacy. Racehorse trainers, for instance, can impart horsemanship to the next generation; or disclose, in horses, a genetic prowess that may have remained undisturbed in less skilled hands. Everyone intimate with her quirks is unanimous that Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}) could easily have slipped through the cracks in a...

Godolphin knows a thing or two about prepping a filly for the Kentucky Oaks through the Fair Grounds meet. Just last year, the then-undefeated Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro) rolled through the Rachel Alexandra and the Fair Grounds Oaks en route to the lilies on the first Friday in May. And in 2023, 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) took the same route, capturing the Rachel Alexandra as well and settling for second in the Fair Grounds Oaks on her way to victory in Kentucky. Flash forward...

Godolphin homebred Bella Ballerina (Street Sense), a half-sister to champion and GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) whose lone previous trip to the post resulted in a 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard-worthy debut sprinting over six furlongs at Keeneland Oct. 5, successfully stretched out to two turns Saturday afternoon in the GII Golden Rod Stakes, hitting the front at midstretch before holding off a late lunge from fellow 'Rising Star' Atropa (Into Mischief). The winner earns 10 points on the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Oaks. Bet...

Godolphin's Bella Ballerina (Street Sense) came from just off the pace to earn TDN Rising Stardom, Presented by Hagyard, in her career opener at Keeneland Sunday afternoon. Content to settle in right behind the leading draft through an opening quarter in :22.47, the 7-5 choice, who was clocking the pace wide, was given her cue from Tyler Gaffalione turning for home. Unfurling her long legs from there, the homebred drew clear in the late stages to win by a convincing 4 1/4-length margin over fellow firsters Debbie Doll (Liam's Map)...

5th-KEE, $110K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 3:08 p.m. ET. Godolphin homebred BELLA BALLERINA (Street Sense) is set for her unveiling under the care of trainer Brendan Walsh, who also conditioned her half-sister, champion 3-year-old filly Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief). Both are out of GI Spinaway Stakes heroine Pretty City Dancer (Tapit), a $3.5-million buy for Stoud Coleman Bloodstock during the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed sale. This dam is herself a half-sister to GISW & MGISP Lear's Princess (Lear Fan). TJCIS PPS 4th-KEE, $110K, Msw, 2yo, 1mT, 2:36 p.m. ET. Lemon's...

Two years ago, Godolphin came into the Kentucky Oaks with a serious threat in Wet Paint (Blame). The homebred was undefeated as a 3-year-old and looked every bit the part in the days leading up to the big event. She went off as the 8-5 favorite, but when the fillies hit the wire it was the other Godolphin runner, Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief), who delivered the win. At 10-1 odds, she handed her connections of Godolphin, trainer Brendan Walsh and jockey Tyler Gaffalione their first Oaks victory. This year, Godolphin...

Hardly a secret to the betting public at the Fair Grounds Sunday, Pretty Sassy (Medaglia d'Oro--Pretty City Dancer, by Tapit) blasted back from a last-out fifth sprinting at Churchill Downs in November to score like a good thing, stamping herself a 'TDN Rising Star' in the process. Settled in a stalking third as Queen Jubilee (Authentic) and Ruby's Ghost (Ghostzapper) led them through opening splits of :23.91 and :48.22, the grey sister to 3-year-old champion filly Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) looked like she was itching to go on the far...

7th-CD, 120K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 3:55 p.m. The half-sister to Eclipse winner and GI Longines Kentucky Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief), PRETTY SASSY (Medaglia d'Oro) debuts as a homebred for Godolphin Sunday. The third foal out of GI Spinaway Stakes winner Pretty City Dancer, who sold to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock for $3,500,000 at FTKNOV in 2018 and is a half to GISW Lear's Princess (Lear Fan), Pretty Sassy gets jockey Tyler Gaffalione aboard for trainer Brendan Walsh. Lined up just inside of that runner is Brown Sugar...

Godolphin took to X to announce 2023 Eclipse champion 3-year-old filly Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief--Pretty City Dancer, by Tapit) has been retired from racing. The social media post said, "Kentucky Oaks winner #PrettyMischievous arriving at her new home at #GainsboroughFarm today. Next stop, motherhood!" Last seen finishing fifth in the GI Clement L. Hirsch Stakes Aug. 3 at Del Mar, the Godolphin homebred had an abbreviated 4-year-old campaign after a return from her championship season. The 'TDN Rising Star' was spectacular at three, capturing the GI Kentucky Oaks, GI Acorn...