Now with Joseph, Mischevious Alex targets Carter Handicap

Cash Is King Racing and LC Racing’s two-time graded stakes winner Mischevious Alex, victorious in last year’s Grade 3 Gotham, will be eyeing a return to Aqueduct Racetrack for the $300,000 Carter Handicap (G1) on April 3.

Trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr., the son of 2020 leading sire Into Mischief returned to the winner’s circle for the first time since the Gotham in his most recent start, a six-furlong allowance optional claimer Jan. 10 at Gulfstream Park.

Chuck Zacney, owner of Cash Is King Racing, said Mischevious Alex would race before the Carter and could either remain in South Florida for the $100,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint (G3) or could ship to Maryland for the $250,000 General George (G3) at Laurel Park. Both races are carded for Saturday, Feb. 13.

“The Carter is absolutely on our radar,” said Zacney. “He’s doing really well right now. We remain optimistic about him.”

Mischevious Alex displayed frontrunning tactics when taking last year’s Gotham, a one-turn mile which he won by two lengths. He arrived at the Gotham off a triumph in the Swale (G3) at Gulfstream Park at seven furlongs.

Initially trained by John Servis, Mischevious Alex was moved to Joseph’s barn in the winter.

“I wanted him to train in a warm weather spot for the winter, so we sent him down to Saffie and he’s done an excellent job with him,” Zacney said.

Mischevious Alex is out of the Speightstown mare White Pants Night and was bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm. He has banked $387,730 through a 10: 5-1-1 career, having won over three different racetracks.

Zacney expressed excitement about Servis trainee Five Tool Player, a $900,000 acquisition from the 2019 OBS March Sale, who makes his career debut in Race 9 on Saturday at the Big A, a one-turn mile for maidens 4-years-old and up.

Owned by Cash Is King Racing and D.J. Stable, the 4-year-old son of Medaglia d’Oro has been training forwardly for his connections at Parx Racing. On Jan. 12, Five Tool Player breezed a half-mile in 49.44 seconds over the Philadelphia oval – the fastest of 38 works recorded at the distance.

“We bought him about a year and a half ago,” Zacney recalled. “He’s a big, beautiful horse, but it took a little longer with him than we expected. Over the last four to six weeks, he’s been training really well and we’re optimistic for a big run from him.”

Zacney said Five Tool Player could be a horse that favors longer distances.

“There were a few spots that came up that were six furlongs, but we were hoping for something around seven or eight (furlongs),” Zacney said. “Even though it’s one turn, we’re happy to see New York card this race that’s a mile.”

Big A winter meet leading rider Kendrick Carmouche has the call aboard Five Tool Player from post 5 at morning-line odds of 8-1.

Bred in Kentucky by Town and Country Farms and Pollock Farms, Five Tool Player is the fourth progeny out of the graded stakes-placed Tapit mare Rashnaa.