Mischevious Alex rolls in Grade 1 Carter H.

Mischevious Alex cruises to victory in the Carter H. (G1) – Chelsea Durand photo

Into Mischief got his second graded stakes winner in as many days on Saturday when Mischevious Alex turned in a dominating performance to win the $300,000 Carter H. (G1) by 5 ½-lengths over Mind Control.

Mischevious Alex won the Gotham S. and Swale S., both Grade 3s, last year, and took the Gulfstream Park Sprint S. (G3) in February. He is Into Mischief’s ninth lifetime Grade 1 winner and is one of his 15 seven graded stakes winners in 2021.

Chateau was the early leader on Saturday, getting the first half-mile in :45.89 with a 2 ½-length lead and Mischevious Alex four lengths back in third. Irad Ortiz, Jr. urged his mount on in upper stretch, and he easily reeled in Chateau to take command. Ortiz eased up Mischevious Alex in the final sixteenth to canter under the wire in 1:23.97 for the seven furlongs.

“I was a little concerned early in the race,” said winning trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr.. “He was a little far back and I know the track has been heavy and I didn’t know if he could make up that much ground. Obviously, he was giving Irad some feel and he rode him with a ton of confidence. He ran well but I didn’t expect him to win a Grade 1 as easy as he did. Mind Control is a Grade 1-winner and I have a lot of respect for the competition.”

Mischevious Alex has now banked $614,730 from a record of 7-1-1 in 12 starts. He is owned by Cash Is King LLC and LC Racing.

“Chuck [Zacney of Cash is King] has always wanted to go to the Met Mile because we want to make him a stallion,” said Joseph when asked about future plans. “Winning a Grade 1 today takes a lot of pressure off. The Met Mile is definitely under consideration and then the two Grade 1s at Saratoga [Forego and Vanderbilt]. There’s a lot of options. Hopefully, he comes out of it good and then we’ll make a game plan.”

Mischevious Alex was bred by WinStar Farm and proved a bargain after selling for $75,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling sale.