Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Citizen Bull

Citizen Bull
Colt by Into Mischief – No Joke, by Distorted Humor
Bred in Kentucky by Robert and Lawana Low ($675,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by SF Bloodstock/Starlight Racing/Madaket Stables)

Into Mischief, who claimed his sixth consecutive leading sire title in 2024, is well-established as a prominent American classic sire, with 2020 Kentucky Derby winner Authentic and 2021 official Derby winner Mandaloun to his credit. He added another feather in his cap last year when his son Goldencents sired Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan. Heading toward this spring, Into Mischief and his sons are again prominent on the Derby trail.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner and Eclipse Award champion 2-year-old Citizen Bull and unbeaten stablemate Barnes, the top two choices on the inaugural Daily Racing Form Derby Watch line, are both by Into Mischief. The super-sire has another three sons in the Top 20 in Sovereignty – part of the Godolphin juggernaut – Patch Adams, and Tappan Street. Into Mischief’s sons Authentic and Practical Joke also have horses on the inaugural Derby Watch list. Authentic is represented by Rodriguez from his first crop. Practical Joke, climbing the ranks of the nation’s leading stallions, is the sire of last weekend’s Withers winner Captain Cook.

Champion Citizen Bull, who launched his 3-year-old season with a win in the Grade 3 Robert Lewis last weekend, is the first winner from three starters out of unraced No Joke. The mare is by Distorted Humor out of the winning Unbridled’s Song mare Unenchantedevening, making her a half-sister to Moonshine Memories, a Grade 1 winner around both one and two turns as a juvenile, and a Grade 2-placed sprinter at 3.

:: KENTUCKY DERBY 2025: Point standings, prep schedule, news, and more

Unenchantedevening is a half-sister to 1997 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner and Horse of the Year Favorite Trick. Although Favorite Trick had classic-distance limitations, he did go on to win the Grade 2 Jim Dandy and Grade 2 Keeneland Mile on turf at 3.

This is the extended family of Tiz the Law, who won the Grade 1 Champagne at a one-turn mile at 2 and the following year added three more Grade 1 scores, including the pandemic-shortened Belmont Stakes and the Travers Stakes.

Crossing Into Mischief over prominent broodmare sire Distorted Humor has produced the likes of multiple Grade 1 winners Life Is Good and Practical Joke. The cross is responsible for another member of the inaugural Derby Watch list, recent Grade 2 Holy Bull runner-up Tappan Street.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.