Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Life Is Good

Life Is Good

Into Mischief – Beach Walk, by Distorted Humor

Bred in Kentucky by Gary and Mary West ($525,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by China Horse Club and Maverick Racing)

Into Mischief established a single-season earnings record for a North American stallion last year, propelled to his second consecutive leading sire title by his first classic winner, Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and Horse of the Year Authentic. Into Mischief is chasing another unprecedented accomplishment in 2021, as no stallion has ever sired back-to-back winners of the Kentucky Derby. He holds a strong hand, with Life Is Good, Mandaloun, Collaborate, and Highly Motivated appearing on the Derby Watch Top 20. Life Is Good will look to keep following the same path as Authentic, aiming to remain unbeaten in three career starts when he goes in the Grade 2 San Felipe this Saturday.

Into Mischief rose to prominence as a leading juvenile sire, and became known for his outstanding sprinters – he is the sire of consecutive Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winners and divisional champions Covfefe and Gamine. However, he had been a factor in two-turn races in Kentucky Derby prep season prior to Authentic’s breakthrough last year.

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From his first crop in 2013, Goldencents won the Santa Anita Derby and the versatile Vyjack won the Jerome and Gotham before finishing third in the Wood Memorial. Goldencents later shortened up to win two editions of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. In 2014, Vicar’s in Trouble won the Lecomte and Louisiana Derby. Into Mischief’s son Audible won the 2018 Florida Derby before finishing third to Justify in the Kentucky Derby. The following year, Owendale was third in the Preakness.

Life Is Good is the second foal out of the placed Distorted Humor mare Beach Walk. Her first son Approved, by Awesome Again, has scored both his wins at a mile. Beach Walk is out of Bonnie Blue Flag, winner of the Cinemine Stakes at seven furlongs and also multiple Grade 1-placed at that distance. Beach Walk is a full sister to Tony Small, who posted his most recent win at a mile and 40 yards, and Will Did It, whose maximum winning distance was seven furlongs.

Bonnie Blue Flag is out of Tap Your Feet, a stakes winner at 1 1/16 miles against Illinois-born runners. She is the dam of Diamondrella, a multiple Grade 1 winner at a mile on turf, and Highest Honors, who won the Curlin Stakes at 1 1/8 miles.

Classic sire Distorted Humor has also become an outstanding broodmare sire, with his daughters producing the likes of champion Arrogate, as well as multiple Grade 1 winners Elate, Guarana, New Money Honey, and Practical Joke. The latter, a three-time Grade 1 winner around one turn and multiple Grade 1-placed at longer distances, is the best runner produced by crossing Into Mischief over a Distorted Humor mare.

– Nicole Russo