Mischievous is Everso classy for Gr.2 win

Qatar Racing’s Everso Mischievous looked the real deal as he completed a hat-trick by winning the Gr.2 Forty Niner Stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday.

Everso Mischievous hasn’t looked back since the blinkers were applied, winning an allowance race at Saratoga in August, the Harrods Creek Stakes (Black Type) at Churchill Downs in September and now the 7-runner Gr.2 Forty Niner Stakes over one mile on the dirt at the Belmont At The Big A meet at Aqueduct [Belmont Park currently under construction].

Everso Mischievous held up late challenges from Dr Ardito and Accretive to win the $300,000 prize by half a length for trainer Brad Cox and jockey Cristian Torres.

Cox said: “He held off some pretty good horses. I'm proud of the horse and the jockey, who had never ridden in New York. He came up and rode a great race. The plan worked out.”

About the horse, Cox said: “He waited on horses in his first start but kept getting better.”

Cox also credited Sheikh Fahad for a willingness to take on older horses and Everso Mischievous could have one more start before 2024, with either the Gr.2 Cigar Mile Handicap at Aqueduct on Dec or Gr.1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Dec 26 possible targets.

The son of the Into Mischief was bred by Clearsky Farms and an $85,000 purchase from the Highgate Sales consignment at the 2022 Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age Sale.

Everso Mischievous made it 3 wins on the spin for Qatar Racing after the victories of Tiptoe at Wolverhampton on Thursday and Youalmosthadme in the Myrtlewood Stakes (Black Type) at Keeneland on Friday.