Honest Mischief runners 1-2-3 in NYSS
Noses apart and multiple lengths ahead of everyone else, sons of HONEST MISCHIEF swept Belmont/Big A’s $150,000 New York Stallion Spectacular Bid Stakes for New York-conceived 3-year-olds on Saturday, June 20, as NESSUNA PAGINA, ILLMATIC and SPIRIT OF NEW YORK nearly dead-heated in 1:08.58 for six furlongs on turf. It might have been the closest to a triple dead heat in a New York stakes race since the 1944 Carter Handicap. The sweep boosted Honest Mischief to among North America’s top-15 third-crop sires in 2026.
Unbeaten winner Nessuna Pagina, owned by John Kosciak’s Transfiguration Stable LLC, was making his stakes, turf and NYRA debut in the Spectacular Bid and was dismissed as the 9.79-to-1 fifth choice among six starters off two easy multiple-margin wins in April and May at Finger Lakes. He led through fractions of 21.80 and 44.84 before shying out near the top of the stretch and getting headed in mid-stretch by Illmatic, as favored Spirit of New York closed from the three path. Through a bumpy final furlong, Nessuna Pagina regained command over his fellow Honest Mischief crop-mates and held on for the photo-finish win. He was Honest Mischief’s third new black type stakes winner in less than 80 days.
Winning jockey Kendrick Carmouche, race-riding Nessuna Pagina for the first time, surmised his mount had shied out because of unfamiliarity with the Big A’s turf course: “…he was running easy around the turn, but as soon as he got there, he was a little lost…until he saw those horses pass him. He just took the bit…he was going to win.”
Winning trainer Paul Barrow was not surprised at the result, saying Nessuna Pagina, “always showed talent…most of the Honest Mischiefs have taken to dirt or turf. This was a nice steppingstone for him.” Regarding future starts, such as Finger Lakes’ 1 1/16-mile New York Derby on July 13, Barrow commented: “I don’t think distance is a big problem.”
Owner Kosciak revealed Nessuna Pagina’s name translates as “no page” in Italian, referring to his catalog page at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s March 2025 Sale that showed no black type through first four dams. Bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock, Inc., Nessuna Pagina and his full brother – a winner on dirt and all-weather at Gulfstream Park – are the only winners produced from their unraced dam and her first offspring sired by Honest Mischief.
Three races earlier on the same race card, Honest Mischief’s daughter FIVE DOZEN ROSES also overcame a bumpy trip to break her maiden by two lengths at near even-money among nine starters going six furlongs on turf, clocking 1:09.09 under 126 pounds. Bred by owner-breeder Barry K. Schwartz’s Stonewall Farm and trained by Linda Rice, Five Dozen Roses was ridden by jockey Dylan Davis. She has won or placed five times in eight starts and has never finished worse than fourth, including a close second on Saratoga dirt.