Pretty Mischievous brings up 400th G1 win with tenacious Acorn display

Pretty Mischievous consolidated her position as the best three-year-old filly in North America as she outbattled Dorth Vader to take the Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park on Friday, 9 June, providing Godolphin with a 400th G1 victory in the process.

A determined winner of the G1 Kentucky Oaks on her previous start, Pretty Mischievous showed good early speed and disputed second initially before settling in a close sixth as Munnys Gold led the eight runners.

Pretty Mischievous took closer order leaving the back straight and made a significant move around runners to go third over two furlongs from home. The Brendan Walsh-trained filly loomed up on the outside of Munnys Gold and Dorth Vader at the top of the straight and stayed on strongly to take up the running approaching the furlong-pole.

Dorth Vader rallied to press Pretty Mischievous for the lead, with the Godolphin homebred finding more for Tyler Gaffalione in the closing strides to prevail by a head. Occult stayed on to take third, some four lengths behind the front two.

Michael Banahan, Director of Bloodstock, Godolphin USA, said: “Tyler [Gaffalione] gave Pretty Mischievous a great ride and got her into a great spot. I was a bit worried about Munnys Gold getting an easy lead but, when Pretty Mischievous picks it up, she always wants to win.

“She is a good filly to come back after the Kentucky Oaks and win here, cutting back in distance as well. I think it proves that she is one of the top three-year-old fillies in the country. We are so excited to have her and to see how far she can progress down the road.

“The only time she has been beaten this season was in the G2 Fair Grounds Oaks and we felt that she just idled that day. Brendan [Walsh] put the blinkers on her and I think that made a difference in that she could finish off her races better.

“This is back-to-back Acorn wins for us following Matareya and it’s such an iconic race for three-year-old fillies, and for future champion broodmares as well. We are very excited to win it again.”