Honest Mischief (USA)

Honest Mischief, a half-brother to First Defence out of a half-sister to Empire Maker, didn’t race as a two-year-old but his three-year-old year saw him put together a sequence of strong and consistent performances, culminating in his first stakes win in November 2019.

In his six races he won three times and was only out of the places once. His maiden win came in April in Keeneland where he powered to an impressive eight-length win over his opposition. Following a disappointing sixth-place finish in the Gr.1 Woody Stephens on Belmont Stakes day, Honest Mischief regrouped and earned his first blacktype coming third in the Gr.2 Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga in late July.

He went on to win his next race, a Keeneland Allowance, by a decisive four lengths before landing the Listed City of Laurel Stakes at Laurel Park at the end of the season.

Honest Mischief started the 2020 season as runner-up in the Listed Aristides Stakes at Churchill Downs, and again in an Allowance race at Saratoga. He returned to Churchill Downs in September and picked up another Allowance contest, this time in the Stewards Room after suffering interference in the final furlong.