By J.N. Campbell
In the Aqueduct Sunday opener, Leslie's Rose (Into Mischief) took to the track in what amounted to a professional debut as she won impressively against a field of five others. The sharp start to her career garnered her 'TDN Rising Star' honors for the effort.
Overlooked a touch at the windows as the 9-2 third choice, the Keeneland September grad exited the gate swiftly to set the pace up the backstretch. Despite a brief challenge around the far turn by chasers Value Area (More Than Ready) and heavy favorite Shoplifting (Into Mischief), when it was time for Irad Ortiz to push the button at the top of the lane, the bay filly responded readily. The Todd Pletcher trainee ran up the score in the end by 9 1/4 lengths.
Whisper Hill Farm purchased Leslie's Rose (hip 117) for $1.15 million at the '22 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The newly-minted 'Rising Star' is out of the unraced Wildwood Rose (Ire) (Galileo {Ire]), who is dam to three foals, two of which have raced and this is her first winner. Sadly, 3-year-old filly Bo Derek (Speightstown) passed away after running in her second career race for Pletcher last January at Gulfstream Park. She was a $900,000 Keeneland September buy for Maverick Racing and Siena Farm. Wildwood Rose's only other produce is a yearling filly by Good Magic. The winner's dam is a half-sister to 'TDN Rising Star' and GI Besilu Stables Florida Derby champ Materiality (Afleet Alex) and to GI Kentucky Oaks runner-up My Miss Sophia (Unbridled's Song), dam to full sibs 'TDN Rising Star' Annapolis (War Front) and MSP Nevisian Sunrise. Leslie's Rose is multiple-leading sire Into Mischief's 42nd 'TDN Rising Star'.
1st-Aqueduct, $85,000, Msw, 11-19, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:16.73, ft, 9 1/4 lengths.
LESLIE'S ROSE, f, 2, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Wildwood Rose {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire})
2nd Dam: Wildwood Flower, by Langfuhr
3rd Dam: Dial a Trick, by Phone Trick
Sales History: $1,150,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $46,750. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Whisper Hill Farm, LLC; B-John D. Gunther & Eurowest Bloodstock Services (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher.
#1 Leslie's Rose dazzles on debut in the opener at Aqueduct for trainer Todd Pletcher with @iradortiz aboard! 🌹
The 2-year-old filly is owned by @whisper_hill.
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/rg4YV3xq8G
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) November 19, 2023
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