Three Witches An Upset Winner In Gulfstream’s Princess Rooney

[Wandering Eyes]

After seven straight races at Florida's Gulfstream Park, Three Witches (Into Mischief) might have to pack a suitcase. An upset winner of Saturday's GIII Princess Rooney S., she's headed to Santa Anita to line up in an all-expenses paid spot in the GI PNC Bank Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

After breaking her maiden in her debut last July, the 4-year-old took some time off before returning to the track to post three straight on-the-board finishes. Sixth in a one-mile spot two back March 10, she again went to the sidelines only to return a winner last time out facing optional claimers Aug. 27.

The only runner in the field to have never lined up in a stakes spot, Three Witches got a good early tempo to run at as Poiema (Neolithic) charged out of the gate and asserted herself up front through an opening quarter in :22.17. The field quickly spaced themselves out with the eventual winner floating back to fifth and held out in the clear nearly six paths off the fence. Racing between rivals into the far turn, the 10-1 shot wasn't making up any ground yet but really began to move into the final quarter mile past a half in :44.37. Angled outside of the leading runners, Three Witches had clear sailing home but had to contend with the closing speed of 7-5 favorite Maryquitecontrary (First Dude) who chased her home but had to settle for a narrow second.

“She's run some decent races where she showed some glimpses of hope and then she'd disappoint after a couple races,” said trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. “We gave her a break and she came back to win well. Today, she put it together. Obviously, she had to make a jump, and she did.”

“The Breeders' Cup, we'll talk about. It's another jump up. She earned the right to go. We'll have to decide. [Owner] Bob [Edwards] is going to make that decision. I'll give him feedback on how she's doing, but he'll make the call,” Joseph added.

Pedigree Note:

Into Mischief picked up his 67th graded-stakes winner with Three Witches's win Saturday. Layreebelle, though unraced herself, was a $525,000 KEENOV RNA in 2018 and has already produced MGSW Kid Cruz (Lemon Drop Kid) along with GSW Spellbound (Bernardini) who herself foaled MGSW Soothsay (Distorted Humor). Another of her daughter's, Rebelle (Hard Spun), produced GII Woodward S. runner up Film Star (Flatter). The dam is herself a half-sister to GISP Magical Illusion (Pulpit), better known as the grand-dam of Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy) through her daughter, Broodmare of the Year Stage Magic. The winner has an unraced 2-year-old full-brother who brought $450,000 as a yearling at the FTSAUG sale, a yearling Candy Ride (Arg) half-sister who sold for $375,000 at last month's Keeneland September Sale and a weanling half-brother also by Candy Ride (Arg).

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