The David Fawkes-trained DUKE OF MISCHIEF (Graeme Hall) parlayed a tactically
advantageous stalking trip into his biggest career victory in Saturday’s
$500,000
Oaklawn Park H. (G2), upsetting the traffic-comprised favorite Win Willy (Monarchos)
by 2 1/2 lengths. Ridden by Eibar Coa, the chestnut negotiated 1 1/8 miles on
the fast track in 1:49 and paid $14.20, $6.20 and $4.20 as the 6-1 fourth choice
in the seven-horse field.
Duke of Mischief tracked in third on the outside, just off the dueling pair
of Dakota Phone (Zavata) and Jonesboro (Sefapiano) through an opening quarter in
:23. As Dakota Phone eased back into a pace-prompting role on the backstretch,
Jonesboro led the way through fractions of :47 and 1:11 1/5. Duke of Mischief
unleashed a quick move on the far turn, pulled away from the early leaders, and
rapidly opened up by 5 1/2 lengths in midstretch.
Meanwhile, 8-5 favorite Win Willy was trying to thread his way between
rivals. Clearly full of run, the gray was on hold until he was able to split
horses, and once barreling through, he took aim on Duke of Mischief. Although
the winner was long gone, Win Willy finished with a flourish to reduce the
margin to 2 1/2 lengths at the wire, returning $3 and $2.80 and ending the
$43.60 exacta.
It was six lengths back to Jonesboro in third, who furnished $5 at 10-1. The
trifecta totaled $296.80, and with the 11-1 Delightful Kiss (Kissin Kris)
closing from last for fourth, the 1-3-4-2 superfecta was good for $1,278.20.
Follow the Leader (Smarty Jones), Prom Shoes (Include) and Dakota Phone
completed the order under the wire.
Campaigned by breeder Marilyn McMaster, along with Alex and Joann Lieblong
and trainer Fawkes, Duke of Mischief improved his scorecard to 12-5-1-0,
$673,925. The Florida-bred spent the first half of 2009 on the turf, breaking
his maiden for an $80,000 tag at Gulfstream in February and finishing a rallying
second in the Florida Cup Sophomore Turf S. at Tampa next time out. Last May at
Calder, he pulverized an off-the-turf allowance field by 11 3/4 lengths in the
slop, an effort that earned him a ticket to the Iowa Derby. Duke of Mischief
rolled to a five-length score in that Prairie Meadows contest and appeared set
for a productive second half of the season, only to disappoint thereafter. Fifth
in the Haskell Invitational (G1), he was a distant fourth in the Pennsylvania
Derby and a retreating seventh in the October 11 Oklahoma Derby.
Duke of Mischief made a winning 2010 debut in the off-the-turf Ft. Lauderdale
S. (G3) at Gulfstream. The four-year-old stepped up in class for the February 6
Donn H. (G1) last time out, but faded badly to finish a remote eighth behind
Quality Road (Elusive Quality).
Duke of Mischief is out of the winning My Lady Amelia (Real Courage), making
him a half-brother to Grade 3 veteran-turned-turf-sprinter Lord Robyn (Robyn
Dancer). My Lady Amelia is also responsible for an unraced sophomore colt named
El Paso (El Corredor) and a juvenile colt named Noble Son (Eddington). This is
the family of influential sire Silver Deputy (Deputy Minister) and two-time
Japan Cup Dirt (Jpn-G1) star Kane Hekili (Fuji Kiseki).