Mischevious Alex exudes class in Gulfstream Park Sprint S. (G3)

Mischevious Alex kicked off his 2021 stakes campaign Saturday with a 3 ¼-length victory in the $100,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint S. (G3), setting the 4-year-old Into Mischief colt up for potential Grade 1 starts in the next few months.

After being away from the races since early August, Mischevious Alex won a Jan. 10 Gulfstream Park allowance in style, earning a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 103. Saturday’s win was a near repeat of that performance. Between horses as he battled for the lead, he shook clear before entering the stretch and pulled away with relative ease to stop the timer in 1:09.55 on a fast main track

“I got a good trip. The horse put me in a good position early. I think [Cajun Brother] had the speed from the break so I just let him go ahead. I sat there and was patient and when it was time to let him go, I just let him go and he responded really well,” jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. said.

With the win, Mischevious Alex is 6-1-1 in 11 starts, including wins in last year’s Gotham S. (G3) and Swale S. (G3). He has earned $449,730 for Cash is King LLC and LC Racing. He was bred by WinStar Farm.

“The Carter (G1, April 3^rd at Aqueduct) is the primary goal. The Dubai Sprint (G1 Golden Shaheen in late March) is in our minds, but we’re going to talk it over and decide,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “[Cash is King LLC’s] Chuck [Zacney] has a game plan to try to win a Grade 1 this year.”