Wonder Wheel’s Breeders’ Cup tops big day for Into Mischief
November 5, 2022
Wonder Wheel scores a 3-length win in the BC Juvenile Fillies (G1) – Coady photography
Wonder Wheel came from the back of the pack to win the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) Friday at Keeneland, capping a terrific day for Into Mischief that also included a stakes win for Truth Seeker and a ‘TDN Rising Star’ performance by 2-year-old Giant Mischief.
Wonder Wheel was the star of the day with her incredible run through and around traffic in the final three furlongs of the 1 1/16-mile race. She raced in 11th for about seven furlongs, with seemingly no where to go at the midway point of the final turn. Tyler Gaffalione found an opening along the rail and the filly passed horses willingly, then with a daring move in upper stretch, she veered sharply to the outside and flew past Leave No Trace to win going away by three lengths.
The final time was 1:44.90 on a fast track.
“Coming into the stretch, approaching the quarter pole, I was really close to (the rail),” Gaffalione said. “I was really close to it, but she didn’t mind it at all. She is full of heart and is such a tremendous filly.”
Owned by D J Stable, Wonder Wheel likely secured the 2-year-old filly championship with the win. She won the Alcibiades S. (G1) in her previous start, as well as the Debutante S. on July 4 at Churchill Downs. She is now 4-for-5 and has earned $1,550,725.
Wonder Wheel was bred by Three Chimneys Farm and Clearsky Farms and was a $275,000 purchase by her owner at the Keeneland September sale.
Truth Seeker gets first stakes win
Truth Seeker became his sire’s newest stakes winner with his victory in the Hank Mills Sr. S. Saturday at Turf Paradise. Like Wonder Wheel, he came from far off the pace to win the 6 ½-furlong race by 1 ¼-lengths.
Truth Seeker is owned by Hole-in-One Racing Stables LLC and was bred by WinStar Farm. Out of For Royalty, Truth Seeker is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Constellation.
Giant Mischief a ‘Rising Star’ at Keenland
Two-year-old Giant Mischief began the day for his sire with a gritty allowance win over heavily-favored Arabian Lion. Giant Mischief and Arabian Lion tracked the pacesetter Tap in Formation down the backstretch, then went by the early leader as he faded between them on the turn. Arabian Lion had a brief lead, but Giant Mischief fought back to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:22.30 for the seven furlongs on a fast track. It was some 18 lengths back to the rest of the field.
Giant Mischief is owned by a partnership headed by Spendthrift and was bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC. The $475,000 Keeneland September yearling is the first foal out of multiple graded winner Vertical Oak and has earned $113,400 in his two victories from as many starts.