She’s earned most of her accolades at Churchill Downs, but Mia Mischief has hardly disgraced herself at Saratoga. On Wednesday, the four-year-old filly seeks to earn her first stakes win at the Spa in the $200,000 Honorable Miss H. (G2).
A six-furlong prep for the Ballerina (G1) later in the meet, the Honorable Miss has attracted a field of six, with Mia Mischief the lone Grade 1 winner in the lineup. That honor came courtesy of a 1 3/4-length score over 2018 Ballerina winner Marley’s Freedom in the Humana Distaff (G1) on May 4.
A follow-up winner of the $120,000 Roxelana last month, Mia Mischief finished second in two Saratoga appearances last summer in the Test (G1) and Prioress (G2).
Chalon has four career stakes wins to her credit, but has come up frustratingly short at graded level with six runner-up finishes. Arguably the toughest was a head miss in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Churchill Downs last fall. Mis Mischief was farther up the track that day in ninth.
A two-length winner of the $100,000 Skipat at Pimlico to start 2019, the Arnaud Delacour-trained mare was most recently second in the Bed o’ Roses (G3) at Belmont Park after getting bumped at the start.
“She came back from her last race in good shape and we’ve been aiming for this one,” Delacour said. “I like this spot better because it fits better than seven [furlongs]. She’s been training well heading in and I’m excited to see her back.
“Hopefully, we run on a good track. The last time, she broke a bit slow and that’s usually not her running style. She’s usually right there and just off the speed. I hope we can have a better trip this time.”
The Louisiana-bred Ours to Run enters on a six-race win streak, including a 3 3/4-length romp over Mia Mischief in the $150,000 Carousel at Oaklawn Park in April. Winning Colors (G3) heroine Honey Bunny has a gap to close on Mia Mischief after running fourth in the Roxelana last time, while Pacific Gale has several graded placings to her credit. Another Louisiana-bred, Minit to Stardom, completes the field.
