TDN RISING STARS

October 18, 2024 - Gulfstream Park, Race 5, Msw, USD $65,000, 6F

Shisospicy, F, 2, 2022 by Mitole

1st Dam: Mischief Galore, by Into Mischief
2nd Dam: Maren's Melody, by Unbridled's Song
3rd Dam: Maren's Meadow, by Meadowlake

Owner: Morplay Racing LLC
Breeder: Bill & Corinne Heiligbrodt (KY)
Trainer: Jose Francisco D'Angelo

Spicy, indeed! Shisospicy (f, 2, Mitole-Mischief Galore, by Into Mischef) left them all in her wake on debut in Florida, and earned the seal of approval from the TDN as well, becoming her sire's fourth 'TDN Rising Star' Friday afternoon.

Sent away at 5-2 odds here, she set the pace from a ground-saving trip on the rail, putting up :22.82, and :45.97 early splits. Widening under minimal urging from Paco Lopez, she had built up a six-length margin entering the stretch, and from there it was a question of how much she felt like winning by. Cruising in, the final tally was 16 1/4 lengths back to Vuela Paloma (Valiant Minister) who was a clear second-best of the rest. The final time was 1:10.65 over a track labeled fast.

The second to the races for Mischief Galore, she is also the second winner by the sire and out of the dam, as her elder sister Sapphire Nights has also had her picture taken. The mare has since produced a pair of Yaupon offspring-a yearling colt, who sells as HIP 479 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings sale, and a 2024 filly. She visited Early Voting for 2025. This is the female line of MGSW Maren's Meadow, who herself hailed from a stakes-winning family in Canada.

Bred by Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt, the grey realized $100,000 as a short yearling at KEEJAN in 2023, selling to Fish Stables, before changing hands for $200,000 six months later at FTKJUL, going the way of Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds. As expected, several months later at OBSAPR this year, she went through the ring as a 2-year-old in-training, but missed her reserve when the bidding stopped at $300,000 after blitzing a furlong under tack in :9 3/5. She remained in training for Morplay Racing stable, which is comprised of Miami Latin music mogul Rich Mendez and his son Josh, as well as Randy Hartley and Dean DeRenzo.

"I really liked this filly from the first day. In Ocala, he had so many horses and I said, 'I really like the gray filly. If you don't sell her, send her to me, because to me she is the best horse at the sale,'" trainer Jose D'Angelo said. "I've always had confidence in [Shisospicy]."

D'Angelo added, "I gave her some time. She's professional on the track, but she's very nervous. We gave her enough time, and she responded very well today. She was a perfect horse for Keeneland or Churchill Downs, but she's so nervous, I decided to keep her here where she was training."