Mia Mischief exudes class in winning Oaklawn's Carousel Stakes

Running for just the second time in the Stonestreet Stables colors, Mia Mischief took advantage of a poor trip by favored Bellafina to win Saturday’s $125,000 Carousel Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

Purchased by Stonestreet for $2.4 million last November at the Fasig-Tipton sale, the 5-year-old daughter of Into Mischief put away pace-setting Amy’s Challenge in the stretch and won going away under Ricardo Santana Jr.

Mia Mischief has only just started a likely final season on the racetrack. Stonestreet’s Barbara Banke left the mare in training with Steve Asmussen before sending her to the breeding shed with Curlin, a Stonestreet great.

“Obviously she’s a very talented filly, a Grade 1 winner at Churchill last year in the Humana Distaff,” Asmussen said. "I think she's better now than she's ever been. I’m very fortunate to get to train her for Stonestreet.”

Saturday’s final time was 1:09.57 after Amy’s Challenge did the work up front, opening up in 21.91 seasons for the quarter mile with the half in 45.21.

The closest Bellafina ever came was third. She broke a step slow, then had to check at the back of the back. Having commenced a wide rally back into range of the leaders, the Carousel’s other Grade 1 winner wound up flat in the stretch of her first race since December.

Mia Mischief, meanwhile, punched her ticket to the Carousel off a local March 20 allowance victory. Overall, she improved to 10-6-1 in 21 starts and returned $5.

This Carousel victory – Mia Mischief did one better than a season ago – was the seventh of the Hall of Famer Asmussen's career.

“Hopefully we end up in the Breeders’ Cup with her this fall,” Asmussen said. “The ability she has, that’s the direction she should be headed in.”