Barn Tour: Walsh updates on 11 in his steadily improving stable

Brendan Walsh’s earnings hit a new high last year for the third time in a row. Climbing steadily from $3.5 million in 2020, his earnings last year topped $11.4 million.

“Just better stock, I think,” Walsh told Horse Racing Nation on Monday. “A good year, obviously, with Pretty Mischievous turned out to be a big plus.”

It helps when you have a champion 3-year-old filly who wins four graded stakes, including three Grade 1s in the Kentucky Oaks, Acorn and Test, as Pretty Mischievous did last year.

The improved quality in his stable is not exactly by design, said Walsh, who has “about 100-plus” horses in training.

“It's not really a strategy. Everybody wants to improve their stock. The natural thing, right? But the better you do, the better stock you seem to attract. I've got great owners, a roster of owners. You've always kind of a good chance when you've got people like that.”

Walsh provided updates on Pretty Mischievous and 10 others in his stable for the latest in HRN’s Barn Tour series.

Pretty Mischievous. After being scratched from the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, the 4-year-old Into Mischief filly returned from a seven-month layoff in May with a third-place finish in the La Troienne (G1) then was third again in the Ogden Phipps (G1). “She's doing great. She ran OK in Saratoga her last start. I think she was a little compromised by the pace, the fact that there wasn't enough pace in there. ... She needs pace in a race to run at. Hopefully we won't encounter that again. But she's doing well and we've a couple of spots that would be on the radar for her, the Hersch (G1) at Del Mar or possibly the (Personal Ensign, G1).”

Intricate. The 3-year-old Gun Runner filly started the year with a runner-up effort in the Rachel Alexandra (G2) in February then was fifth in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2). She returned June 15 to finish second in the Monomoy Girl and is entered in Saturday’s Coaching Club American Oaks (G1). “She's doing well. She ran really well in her comeback race. We had to give her a little time after the Fair Grounds this winter. But she came back really well at Churchill, and she's done very well since. So we're hopeful that we can run a good race on Saturday at Saratoga, be there or thereabouts.

Implicated. The 4-year-old Connect filly is one of three graded-stakes winners this year for Walsh after scoring in the Nassau (G2) for her second straight win. “She obviously ran very well the last day in the Nassau at Woodbine. We were very pleased with that. We haven't really decided where we're going to go with her next clip. Any of the bigger races for older mares would be on the radar for her. At Woodbine, possibly, or something at Saratoga too.”

First World War. The 3-year-old War Front colt has won two graded stakes this year, the Kitten’s Joy (G3) and the Penn Mile (G3), with a ninth-place finish in the Transylvania (G3) in between. Last out, he was second in the American Derby at Churchill Downs. “He's doing good. Came out of his last race well. We'd be looking at the big 3-year-old turf races for him, the Secretariat (G2), the Hall of Fame (G2). Something like one of them, possibly looking farther ahead maybe Kentucky Downs as well.”

Prevalence. The 6-year-old gelding is 1-for-5 this year, finishing fifth last out in the John A. Nerud (G2). “Prevalence is good. Ran last Saturday in the Nerud. We were a little disappointed with him. So to be honest, I don't really know where we're going to go next with him.”

Forever After All. This 5-year-old daughter of Connect opened the year with an optional-claiming allowance win but is 0-for-4 since, all in stakes races. Last out, she was second by a half-length in the Anchorage Overnight. “She's doing good too. She ran really well her last start in a stake at Churchill. We'd be looking at maybe the Beverly D (G1) or the Canadian (G2) at Woodbine with her maybe next time.”

Fancy. Winless in five starts last year, this 4-year-old Justify filly won a maiden special weight on the Kentucky Oaks undercard in her 2024 debut. She won a Churchill allowance by seven lengths in her most recent start. “We might either run her in a two-other-than allowance race or maybe have a look at the Groupie Doll at Ellis Park” on Aug. 11.

Cloudwalker. The 3-year-old daughter of More Than Ready won her debut in October then returned to finish third in her first two starts of 2024. She then won an allowance at Churchill and was third in the Coronation Cup at Saratoga on Friday. “We'll see how she comes out of that. But we may run her back in Saratoga or we may go straight to Kentucky Downs with her.”

2-year-olds

American Woman. The Constitution filly broke her maiden Monday in her second start, beating the odds-on favorite by 2 1/2 lengths. Before the race, Walsh said, “She ran well in her only start, and she got a little tired but I'm hoping for a better a better finish from her today. … She should be live today.”

Somethinabouther. This Mendelssohn filly was third in her June 14 debut at Churchill Downs and is entered as an also-eligible in a maiden special weight at Ellis Park on Sunday. “She ran well too, first time out.”

Don’t Call Me Babe. This Tiz the Law filly was second by a head in her debut Saturday at Ellis Park. “She looks like she could be a pretty nice filly as she moves further along.”