REMINGTON PARK’S DAVID VANCE STAKES WINNER, FLASH OF MISCHIEF, LOOKING FOR UPSET AT KEENELAND IN BREEDERS’ CUP SPRINT

Remington Park leading trainer Karl Broberg has always had high hopes for Flash of Mischief, his 30-1 longshot in Saturday’s Grade 1, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.

Flash of Mischief came within 1-1/4 lengths from winning the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby last year, losing to the Brad Cox-trained Warrant by that margin. The Derby is the prime route race for 3-year-olds at Remington Park annually. Move to his 4-year-old campaign at Remington Park and Flash of Mischief was second, beaten 1-1/2 lengths by Rated R Superstar, in the $175,000 Governor’s Cup here in August. The colt then broke through by 6-1/4 lengths in the ultimate sprint race in Oklahoma City, the $150,000 David Vance Stakes.

A versatile runner capable of two turn route events and sprints has given Flash of Mischief’s connections plenty of options to succeed.

“The owner wanted to make him a 1-1/8th miles horse and I wanted him to be a closing sprinter,” said Broberg. “I might get my way for a couple of races now.”

Flash of Mischief is just hours away from trying to pull off a shocking upset against the top sprinters in the world. A colt by Into Mischief, out of the Political Force mare Flashy Campaign, has been made a huge outsider at 30-1 from the outside post for the six-furlong sprint. He is the No. 11 in a field of 11.

The BC Sprint goes off as Keeneland’s Race 7 on Saturday with an approximate post time of 1:30pm-Central. Broberg and Flash of Mischief arrived at Keeneland early this week and the nation’s No. 2 trainer in wins this year, behind only Steve Asmussen, said he has settled into his new surroundings well.

“We have trained him up to this race exactly how we did to (the Vance Stakes),” said Broberg. “All I can say is he’s doing incredibly well and I would be terribly disappointed if he doesn’t land in the top three.”

Flash of Mischief is owned and was bred in Kentucky by Jerry Namy of Ft. Worth, Texas, and his record going into the Sprint is 21 starts, eight wins, five seconds and two thirds for $661,788 in lifetime earnings. Broberg decided to allow his regular jockey and leading rider at Remington Park, Cristian Torres, to stay aboard Flash of Mischief for a lifetime riding experience.

“As a kid, I dreamed to be at the Breeders’ Cup one day,” Torres tweeted out this week. “In 2018, I made it as an exercise rider. This year I’ll make it as a jockey. Thanks to Karl Broberg and Jerry Namy for making my dream come true. But especially my agent Cody (Autrey) for all the hard work.”

He completed his tweet with #DreamsComeTrue.

As a 2-year-old, Flash of Mischief, wasn’t much to write home about. He finished ninth to Senor Buscador in the $200,000 Springboard Mile, beaten more than 28 lengths. It all began to turn around for him as a 3-year-old, however. He finished ahead of Super Stock in the Oklahoma Derby, a horse that had won the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., in 2021. Super Stock ran third in the Oklahoma Derby.

Then as a 4-year-old Flash of Mischief may have run the best race of his career, winning by a city block in the Vance Stakes. The horse that ran second in that sprint was Empire of Gold, who had run fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint to Whitmore in 2020, losing only by four lengths.

If Flash of Mischief somehow shocks the world and wins the Sprint, it won’t be an easy task. He will face this year’s top sprinter in 4-5 favorite Jackie’s Warrior, out of Asmussen’s barn and last year’s Sprint winner Aloha West (an outsider this year at 12-1 on the morning line). Aloha West isn’t getting much attention even after winning the 2021 Sprint, defeating Jackie’s Warrior in the process.

Jackie’s Warrior has won four of five starts this year, capturing the Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint at Oaklawn, the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes, the Grade 2 True North Stakes at Belmont Park in New York and the Grade 1 Alfred Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga in upstate New York. He won all these races at distances of six to seven furlongs. His only loss came last time out in the Grade 1 Forego Stakes at Saratoga at seven furlongs. He went off at 15 cents on the dollar that day.

Live racing at Remington Park continues Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4 and 5, with a nightly first post of 7:07pm-Central.

Tracked by more than 171,000 fans on Facebook and 10,600 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $304 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District, Remington Park features the $400,000 Springboard Mile, our top 2-year-old race on the final night of the season on Saturday, December 17. Remington Park also presents simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

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