Golden Mischief enters Delta Downs Princess with wind at her back

Her career started a tad slow over the summer, but Golden Mischief enters Saturday's $400,000 Delta Downs Princess (G3) under a head of steam. The Steve Asmussen-trained daughter of Into Mischief will be among the favorites in the one-mile test, won three years ago by turf ace Tepin and in 2014 by divisional champion Take Charge Brandi.

In addition to joining a list that includes those two decorated fillies, qualifying points for Kentucky Oaks (G1) eligibility will also be on the line for the top four finishers (10-4-2-1).

Golden Mischief, who tended to show speed in some of her early-season setbacks, has become a more productive filly since reverting to a mid-pack closer. An eight-length maiden winner at Ellis Park in her fourth career start, Golden Mischief romped by 5 3/4 lengths in a six-furlong Churchill allowance in September, and last time rallied to win the $100,000 My Trusty Cat, the local prep over a two-turn seven furlongs, defeating Flatter Up and Forest Circle.

The pace figures to be rather strong in the Delta Downs Princess. Shane's Girlfriend steps up from a 5 3/4 length debut victory at Santa Anita for Doug O'Neill, and it would be no surprise to see her show early foot again. Breaking to her outside are Cajun Delta Dawn and Dude Fantasy, who combined won the three Florida Sires S. series of races for fillies at Gulfstream. Cajun Delta Dawn is more of a speed/pressing type, while Dude Fantasy is more likely to come from a bit off the pace.

Others likely to be prominent early are the aforementioned Flatter Up; Kentucky invader Caroline Test, who is dual stakes-placed and recently fourth in the Alcibiades; Jilly, a last-out maiden winner for Bob Baffert; and Chanel's Legacy, who exits a 4 3/4-length win in the E.L. Gaylord Memorial at Remington Park. The field is rounded out by the stakes-placed San Antonio Stroll, whose two starts to date were both on the grass at Retama Park.

(Coady Photography)