Mischief Joke dominates Ontario County

Mischief Joke handled his second trip to Finger Lakes in western New York better than the first last fall and came away with a convincing victory in Monday’s $50,000 Ontario County Stakes.

Third after ducking in and checking after the start of the $161,547 New York Breeders’ Futurity October 16, Mischief Joke made amends in the 6-furlong Ontario County as the 2-5 favorite. The 3-year-old son of Practical Joke added Monday’s co-feature to his victory in January in the Rego Park Stakes at Aqueduct, winning by 5 1/4 lengths under Andre Worrie.

Owned by Paradise Farms Corp., Parkland Thoroughbreds, Barry Fowler and Angelo Carlesimo and trained by Mike Maker, Mischief Joke returned in the Ontario County after finishing last of five in the Mike Lee Stakes June 9 at Saratoga Race Course.

Bet down from his 9-5 morning-line odds, Mischief Joke raced third early while 3-1 second choice Stars N Stones took the early lead ahead of Benji Brown. Stars N Stones led by a half-length through the opening quarter-mile in :23.01.

Worrie guided Mischief Joke to the three-path around the far turn and Mischief Joke rolled past Stars N Stones and Benji Brown to take command. Mischief Joke led through the half in :46.72 and cruised through the lane, past 5 furlongs in :59.48 on a 4 1/2-length lead that widened at the finish. Aelfgar ralled from fifth to finish second, 5 ¼ lengths ahead of Stars N Stones in third. Mischief Joke won in 1:12.92.

Bred by Pine Ridge Stables LTD and foaled at Waldorf Farm in North Chatham, Mischief Joke is out of the unraced Distorted Humor mare Shesabitdistorted.

Shesabitdistorted is a full sister to graded stakes winner and Grade 1-placed Sharp Humor, champion New York-bred 2-year-old male in 2005 and champion New York-bred 3-year-old male in 2006. She’s the dam of six winners including Mischief Joke and fellow New York-bred It’s Mo Joke.

Mischief Joke sold for $6,500 to Erick Torres as a short yearling at the 2022 Keeneland January horses of all ages sale. He started his career in Kentucky for Torres and owner Twin Oaks LLC, finishing second in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden race at Keeneland Race Course, before being purchased privately by his current connections.

Mischief Joke was offered but not sold on a bid of $150,000 during last year’s Fasig-Tipton August digital sale. He compiled a record of 1-5-2 in nine starts last season before starting 2024 with a victory in the Rego Park Stakes in late January at Aqueduct. He defeated Antonio of Venice in the Rego Park before that rival turned the tables in the $93,000 Damon Runyon Stakes in mid-March at Aqueduct.

Mischief Joke didn’t race for nearly three months after the Damon Runyon and returned in the Mike Lee on the New York Showcase Day that closed the four-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga.

The Ontario County victory, worth $30,000, boosted Mischief Joke’s bankroll to $259,595 from a record of 3-6-2 in 13 starts.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2024/06/24/mischief-joke-dominates-ontario-county/

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Sweet Brown Sugar back home with Niagara Stakes victory

Sweet Brown Sugar returned to Finger Lakes off a short freshening that followed her second stakes victory and added a third Monday in the $50,000 Niagara Stakes.

Off since winning the $100,000 East View Stakes March 17 at Aqueduct, the 3-year-old daughter of Collected ran her record at Finger Lakes to 3-for-3 with her 5 1/2-length win in the Niagara. Owned by Richie Rich Racing Stable and trained by Paul Barrow, Sweet Brown Sugar started her career at Finger Lakes with back-to-back victories that included the $40,000 Shesastonecoldfox in early November.

Hammered down to 1-9 in the field of five reduced by the scratch of A Thousand Plans, Sweet Brown Sugar and jockey Jeremias Flores took the lead from Dorth’s Sol Dancer shortly after the break and opened up a clear lead.

Sweet Brown Sugar clicked past the opening quarter-mile in :23.44 with Dorth’s Sol Dancer giving chase ahead of Dreamery, Love Thyself and Sevens Up. Dorth’s Sol Dancer inched up within three-quarters of a length midway around the far turn before Sweet Brown Sugar opened up again past the half in :47.45.

Sweet Brown Sugar cruised from there, turning for home well in control and widening her advantage. Love Thyself made a tepid run down on the inside to edge past 9-1 second choice Dorth’s Sol Dancer by a half-length at the finish for the place spot at 25-1. Dreamery finished another 8 1/4 lengths back in fourth. Sweet Brown Sugar won in 1:12.41 over the fast track.

Bred by Chester and Mary Broman and foaled at their Chestertown Farm in Chestertown, Sweet Brown Sugar is the first and only foal out of the winning Bodemeister mare Rachel’s Blue Moon. The winner of two of 11 starts and $97,096, Rachel’s Blue Moon raced for the Bromans as a second-generation homebred for the multiple leading breeders in New York. Rachel’s Blue Moon is out of the Grade 1-placed stakes-winning El Corredor mare Beautiful But Blue, who is out of the multiple stakes-winning $523,927-earning Dixie Brass mare Beautiful America.

Beautiful But Blue, third in the Grade 1 Test Stakes at Saratoga in 2012 and winner of three New York-bred stakes on the NYRA circuit that season, is also the dam of stakes-placed Montebello. Beautiful But Blue won five of 17 starts and earned $395,450. Beautiful America won six of 21 starts and earned $523,927 for the Bromans from 2002 to 2004.

Sweet Brown Sugar originally sold for $10,000 through the Sequel New York consignment at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale. She was then offered as part of the Scenic Sales consignment at the 2023 OBS June sale and brought $32,000 from Nick Hines, agent for Richie Rich Stables.

Sweet Brown Sugar started her sophomore campaign at Aqueduct for Barrow. After a fifth behind My Mane Squeeze in the Franklin Square Stakes in mid-January, she finished third in a 6-furlong allowance-optional. Sweet Brown Sugar has won three straight since – a similar 6 1/2-furlong allowance-optional, the East View by 4 lengths and Monday’s co-featured Niagara. Sweet Brown Sugar improved to 5-for-7 and boosted her bankroll to $180,500 with her latest score.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2024/06/24/sweet-brown-sugar-back-home-with-niagara-stakes-victory/

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