And thus the queen of flowers blooms again.
'TDN Rising Star' Leslie's Rose (Into Mischief) has rediscovered her best stride and gamely took home the GII Shuvee Stakes at Saratoga Friday afternoon.
Eased up in the stretch last out June 6 in the GI Ogden Phipps Stakes when the track turned into slop she hated, it had been the most recent in a series of tough-luck jumps for the daughter of Into Mischief. Her prior three starts before then were the GI Acorn Stakes and GI CCA Oaks last year–where she finished second and fourth, respectively, behind Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna)–and May 4 this season in the GIII Vagrancy Stakes for her seasonal return from a layoff. She would finish a neck behind GSW Haulin Ice (Coal Front)–now on a four-race win streak–and lost second by a nose to SW & MGSP R Disaster (Awesome Slew) in a blanket finish.
Returning alongside Ogden Phipps rivals GSW & GISP Dazzling Move (Not This Time) and 3-5 betting choice MGISW Raging Sea (Curlin), she was content to track the former as that frontrunner rolled through fractions of :23.62, :47.56, and 1:11.78 with Leslie's Rose never far away. As that pair swung for home, it looked like the favorite might try to make it three in a line, but the top two quickly distanced themselves from Raging Sea in the lane. Game as they come, Dazzling Move tried to muster a response late, but Leslie's Rose relentlessly pushed forward to win by 3 3/4 lengths to reward her backers with 4-1 odds. The longtime leader held second and Raging Sea managed third.
“She doesn't care for sloppy conditions and unfortunately we caught those last time–it literally started raining on the way to the paddock and it was the same thing in the Kentucky Oaks,” said Todd Pletcher. “We cross-entered today [and in the GIII Molly Pitcher] hoping to catch a fast track either here or at Monmouth and it worked out.”
“We got a great trip. She's very tactical–good tactical speed, and put herself in a good position going into the turn and it worked out the way we hoped. I peeked back and saw she [No. 5, Raging Sea] had some work to do, but I was focused on our filly and it looked like she was traveling well throughout.”
When asked about a potential start in the GI Personal Ensign Stakes Aug. 23 with a 'Win and You're In' berth on offer to the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, Pletcher said, “I think so. She ran awfully well here today. We'll circle that and point towards it.”
She's back! 🌹 #3 LESLIE'S ROSE ($10.40) battles in the Saratoga stretch under @iradortiz to win the $200,000 Shuvee Stakes (G2) for @PletcherRacing and owner @whisper_hill. Another graded stakes winner for @spendthriftfarm's Into Mischief.
Bet Saratoga https://t.co/WBsgDcEauN pic.twitter.com/hiIR11KI3X
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) July 18, 2025
Pedigree Note
Purchased for a price befitting royalty as a yearling, the $1.15-million Keeneland September grad hails from the family of GI Florida Derby winner Materiality (Afleet Alex) and GSW & MGISP My Miss Sophia (Unbridled's Song) by way of her dam, Wildwood Rose (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Said mare is a half-sister to the aforementioned pair–the latter of which produced GISW Annapolis (War Front) and his full-sister MSP Nevisian Sunrise. A second half-sister is the dam of SW & GISP Grand Mo the First (Uncle Mo) and SP Palladium (Graydar). Wildwood Rose has only produced two offspring since Leslie's Rose, those being a placed 3-year-old named Divine Rose (Good Magic) and a yearling filly by Not This Time. She was bred to Gun Runner for 2026.
Second dam SW & MGSP Wildwood Flower (Langfuhr) is herself a half-sibling to MGSW & GISP Eye of the Tiger (American Chance) and to the mare who produced GISW Afleet Express (Afleet Alex); MSW & MGSP Reporting for Duty (Deputy Commander); and GISW Embellish the Lace (Super Saver).
Friday, Saratoga
SHUVEE S.-GII, $200,000, Saratoga, 7-18, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8m, 1:50.77, ft.
1–LESLIE'S ROSE, 124, f, 4, 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
'TDN Rising Star'. ($1,150,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Whisper Hill Farm LLC; B-John D. Gunther & Eurowest Bloodstock Services (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $110,000. Lifetime Record: GISW, 10-4-1-2, $743,800. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Dazzling Move, 122, f, 4, Not This Time–Lady Liam, by Saint Liam. ($85,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEESEP; $135,000 2yo '23 EASMAY). O-Miller Racing LLC; B-Jesse Korona (ON); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. $40,000.
3–Raging Sea, 124, m, 5, Curlin–Stormy Welcome, by Storm Cat. ($300,000 RNA Ylg '21 KEESEP). O/B-Alpha Delta Stables, LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $24,000.
Margins: 3 3/4, 9 3/4, 2HF. Odds: 4.20, 4.40, 0.65.
Also Ran: Gun Song, Prides Crossing, Malibu Beauty, Sidamara. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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