Comical atop Into Mischief exacta in Schuylerville S. (G3)

Comical held off hard-charging Kiss the Girl by a neck in Thursday’s $150,000 Schuylerville S. (G3) on opening day at Saratoga to lead a 1-2 finish for the daughters of Into Mischief.

Comical joins a list of luminaries such as Ashado, Countess Diana and Weekend Surprise, all winners of the historic race for 2-year-old fillies.

Comical, a TDN Rising Star after her six-length debut win May 26 at Santa Anita, conceded the early Schuylerville lead to longshot Integral, tracking her through a quarter-mile in :22.54. Moving up to engage the leader at the top of the stretch, Comical soon took over, with Shippy mounting a challenge to her inside. In deep stretch, Comical was edging away, only to have Kiss the Girl come flying late to come up just short.

The final time on the sloppy/sealed track was 1:11.66 for the six furlongs.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling to win at Saratoga, and we’re blessed. To get a win here means a lot,” said winning co-owner Erik Johnson, who is a defenseman for the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche. “Hats off to the whole team that got her here. I don’t take for granted how difficult it is. People spend a lot of time and money to win a race like this at Saratoga. The team put in a ton of tough hours to get her here. We’re excited to see what her future holds.”

Comical is trained for Johnson and his partners by Doug O’Neill. She has won $121,500 in her two victories.

Pedigree notes from the TDN

Comical is the 51st stakes winner and 24th graded stakes winner for red-hot Into Mischief. She is the third foal to race out of Kayce Ace, who was stakes placed and won three times in 15 starts for Susan and is a full sister to 2008 GI Travers S. hero Colonel John. Kayce Ace most recently returned to Into Mischief and produced two more fillies, a yearling and a foal born Mar. 9.