2025 Belmont Stakes Results
2
Sovereignty
5/2
ML 2/1
7
Journalism
2/1
ML 8/5
6
Baeza
7/2
ML 4/1
3
Rodriguez
7/1
ML 6/1
1
Hill Road
14/1
ML 10/1
8
Heart of Honor
20/1
ML 30/1
4
Uncaged
19/1
ML 30/1
5
Crudo
11/1
ML 15/1
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Stakes Recap

Mischief Lady splashes to victory in off-the-turf NYSSS Cupecoy’s Joy

Keith McCalmont • Jun 14 2025

Paddock Proud’s Mischief Lady made every pole a winning one under Ricardo Santana, Jr. to capture Saturday’s $150,000 Cupecoy’s Joy division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series, a six-furlong off-the-turf sprint for eligible New York-sired sophomore fillies, at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by Edward Barker, the New York-bred Honest Mischief bay returned from a nearly five-month layoff following a local state-bred optional-claiming score on January 17 to wire a talented field of five and earn her first winning blacktype in her third attempt.

Mischief Lady, the slight 6/5 favorite, broke alertly from post 2 and set splits of 22.47 seconds and 45.51 over the sloppy and sealed main track with Boston’s Phinest tracking from second position and NYSSS Park Avenue-winner Storm Changer saving ground in third.

Disco Star, the 7/5 second choice under Dylan Davis for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse, traveled in fourth position and attempted to push on through the turn but made no headway as Mischief Lady opened up a two-length advantage at the stretch call.

“I made the move on the turn for home, I asked, and she gave me a second kick. She was much the best today,” Santana, Jr. said.

Mischief Lady stayed on strong down the lane and opened up to score by 2 1/2-lengths in a final time of 1:09.65. A game and determined Boston’s Phinest chased all the way to the wire and saved place honors by a nose over a rallying Storm Changer with Disco Star and Royal Event, who bobbled at the start and trailed throughout, rounding out the order of finish.

Santana, Jr. said his first experience aboard Mischief Lady was a good one.

“I watched her replays, and she was really quick. I think the track today was going to help her more,” Santana, Jr. said. “Even coming from a layoff, she broke really sharp, and she was really comfortable on the lead. I was really happy with her.”

The victory marked the first stakes win for Barker since Shipsational captured the 2021 state-bred Sleepy Hollow at Belmont Park.

Barker, who noted the surface switch benefitted his filly, credited his owners with allowing him to give Mischief Lady some needed time off following a four-race juvenile campaign against fellow state-breds that included a runner-up effort in the Lady Finger as a maiden in September at Finger Lakes and a third-out graduation here in October.

“I think Mark Casse's horse was probably the most talented on grass, but I think if it was on dirt, or slop, it would even up,” Barker said. “This filly has been training awesome. We gave her the time, and she grew like a monster. I'm glad she came back the way she did.”

Bred by Chester and Mary Broman, the $57,000 OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training purchase banked $82,500 in victory while improving her record to 6-3-1-0. She returned $4.50 for a $2 win bet.

Live racing will resume Sunday at Belmont at the Big A with a nine-race card. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.  

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont at the Big A, and the best way to bet every race of the spring/summer meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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