Pretty Mischievous held off a late race challenge from Gambling Girl to prevail in the Kentucky Oaks by a neck. The Alys Look finished third, while race favorite Wet Paint, was fourth. Pretty Mischievous broke from post #14 (the farthest outside post in the Oaks), which caused her to go wide on the first turn. She was still wide coming into the home stretch, but was ridden expertly by Tyler Gaffalione.

Walsh, who grew up on a small dairy farm in County Cork, Ireland, has worked for Godolphin for 25 years, starting in the organization by galloping horses. He is said to have an innate sense for what horses need in training, and decided that blinkers might help Pretty Mischievous focus better. Certainly seems to have paid off!

“It’s like something from a fairytale story,” Walsh said. This was the first Oaks victory for Walsh, Gaffalione and Godolphin.

For those looking at pedigrees, Pretty Mischievous is by Into Mischief out of the Tapit mare (see, there’s Tapit again), Pretty City Dancer. Will Into Mischief influence tomorrow’s Derby? There are three contenders sired by him: Rocket Can, Sun Thunder and Cyclone Mischief.