In the Grade 1, $500,000 Test Stakes on Saturday, the previously unbeaten Maple Leaf Mel stumbled just before the finish line and had to be killed. After the incident, Godolphin-bred Pretty Mischievous crossed the finish line first and defeated Clearly Unhinged by a head in the 3-year-old fillies’ seven-furlong race. In the Test Stakes, Maple Leaf Mel was a potential competitor who consistently showed her talent and tenacity. Tragically, both her connections and racing fans suffered a great deal as a result of her untimely fall. To learn more about the Maple Leaf Mel, continue reading.
Maple Leaf Mel Accident
In the final stride of the 3-year-old fillies’ seven-furlong race, Maple Leaf Mel gave way. Joel Rosario was forced out of his seat and allowed to cross the finish line as she slid to her right and fell forward. Rosario got to his feet and moved off the course, but the other horses were able to avoid him. According to a track spokeswoman, he was brought to Albany Medical Centre for additional assessment and to receive stitches for facial scratches and a cut lower lip. The right front leg of Maple Leaf Mel suffered a catastrophic injury, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) reported in a statement. The filly had to be humanely put to sleep because of the extent of the damage, despite the rapid response of the on-site vets.
The seven-horse field was led by New York-bred Maple Leaf Mel, trained by and named for Melanie Giddings, through every point of call and was beginning to pull away when she suffered a severe leg injury only strides from the finish line. Pretty Mischievous won the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs in May and the Acorn on Belmont Stakes Day in June for trainer Brendan Walsh after closing from the fifth position at the top of the stretch to win her third straight Grade 1 race. In the Test, Munnys Gold came in third, followed by Darth Vader, Jersey Pearl, and Tappin Josie. Interpolate was rubbed out.
Pretty Mischievous, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, won the graded sprint after succeeding over longer distances. The Into Mischief filly, who started as the 9-5 favorite, paid out $5.70 on a $2 win wager, solidifying her claim to the divisional championship by winning seven of her previous nine races. However, Walsh stated that with the loss of Maple Leaf Mel, the sympathies of the connections were extended to Giddings, Rosario, and owner August Dawn Farm, led by National Football League Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells.
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Source: HIS Education