The Worst Test: Pretty Mischievous Wins Tragic Renewal of Grade 1 Test
Photo by Tod Marks
Jockey Joel Rosario warming up Maple Leaf Mel before the tragic Grade I, 2023 Test Stakes at Saratoga. By Sean Clancy Editor’s Note: Middleburg horseman and journalist Sean Clancy was honored with a media Eclipse Award in January for his moving story about the tragic death of undefeated Thoroughbred Maple Leaf Mel at the finish of the Grade I Test Stakes at Saratoga last August 5, 2023. The piece first appeared in the Saratoga Special and is reprinted with permission.
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t made you turn away. Strides before the wire in the Grade 1 Test Saturday afternoon at Saratoga, the undefeated Maple Leaf Mel had put away six rivals in the 3-year-old filly stakes, the feel-good story of all feelgood stories was about to crescendo when she bobbled, stumbled and fell strides before the wire. Spectators gasped that terrible gasp, the one heard so rarely, but so deeply. It was over. Her race. Her life. Maple Leaf Mel suffered a catastrophic fracture to her right front
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leg and was euthanized. Pretty Mischievous inherited the win. Today’s Bayakoa. Today’s Foolish Pleasure. The Godolphin team declined a winner’s circle photo, canceled a trophy presentation. There was nothing to celebrate, nothing to immortalize. Pretty Mischievous cantered back and stood on the track, a double-play toss from where Maple Leaf Mel was taking her final breaths behind a wavering brown screen. Every race has a winner, and every race has a loser, this one had nothing but the latter. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione pulled off his tack in an empty spot in front of the winner’s circle, trainer Brendan Walsh stared into oblivion, the now three-time Grade 1 stakes winning filly walked home. At least she was walking home. Walsh and Gaffalione walked through the stunned clubhouse crowd toward the jocks’ room, the quietest Grade 1 aftermath. Ever. “I don’t know what to say. I don’t think words can describe it. It feels like nothing,” Walsh said. “I just feel terrible for them. For the
MIDDLEBURG SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE| Winter 2024
