Bye Bye takes Soaring Softly S. (G3) to give Into Mischief a Saturday graded stakes double

North America’s leading sire of 2021 had another stellar Saturday on May 15, with Bye Bye capturing the $100,000 Soaring Softly S. (G3) at Belmont Park, while earlier in the afternoon Mighty Mischief took the $200,000 Chick Lang S. (G3) at Pimlico.

Both 3-year-olds were registering their first stakes wins in their respective races.

Bye Bye was back on the grass for the Soaring Softly after breaking her maiden on the Gulfstream Park lawn on March 21. Breaking from the far outside in the field of 11 fillies, Bye Bye and jockey Eric Cancel had no choice but to stay well off the fence in the four path as they sat a few lengths off the lead.

Still wide on the turn, Bye Bye began to advance and was within a length of the lead at the top of the stretch. She lengthened her stride in the lane to take over, then held off a host of challengers to win by a neck in 1:21.19 for the seven furlongs on the firm turf.

“I was concerned [about the outside],” said winning trainer Christophe Clement. “I’m a firm believer in saving ground, but there’s only so much we can do. She was wide all the way, but she was good enough to overcome it. Eric did the best he could.”

The winner was bred by Malibu Farm, LLC and is owned by Bach Stables LLC. With two victories in three starts, Bye Bye has earned $82,400.

Pedigree notes from the TDN

Bye Bye is the 42nd winner at graded level for Into Mischief and brings the 16-year-old stallion to within three black-type winners of 100. Bye Bye’s dam Garnet, who was acquired by Spendthrift Farm for $550,000 in foal to Uncle Mo at Keeneland November in 2016, was not covered in 2018 and produced a filly by Bolt d’Oro last year before being bred to Into Mischief’s son Goldencents for this season.