Into Mischief has big weekend, chance to tie Kentucky Derby record

In the span of one weekend, kingpin Into Mischief gave a remarkable demonstration of why he is the dominant sire of this time. The five-time reigning leading sire took over atop the North American earnings list with three new graded stakes winners – including yet another Grade 1 winner – and now has likely representation in both the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks.

Into Mischief, who stands at Spendthrift Farm, sired his 21st career Grade 1 winner on Friday, as Leslie’s Rose scored an impressive win in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland. The win, which assures the filly a place in the Kentucky Oaks starting gate – another Into Mischief filly, Into Champagne, also qualifies in the point standings – came less than a week after Into Mischief hit the milestone of 20 career top-level winners, as Laurel River rambled home in the Dubai World Cup.

On Saturday, Resilience won the Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, punching his ticket into the Kentucky Derby, where he’ll seek to give his sire more history in that race. Officially, Into Mischief is the only stallion ever to sire back-to-back Kentucky Derby winners, as 2020 victor Authentic was followed by Mandaloun, promoted to the win on the disqualification of Medina Spirit. A third Kentucky Derby win would tie Into Mischief for the record in the race, as Virgil (1876, 1881, 1886), Falsetto (1894, 1901, 1906), Sir Gallahad III (1930, 1940, 1945), and Bull Lea (1948, 1952, 1957) each sired three winners.

:: KENTUCKY DERBY 2024: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more

Into Mischief rounded out his weekend as Denim and Pearls romped in the Grade 2 Beaumont Stakes on Sunday at Keeneland. As the dust settles, Into Mischief had progeny earnings of $14,119,508 on the year through Sunday, pushing past Mineshaft, at $12,906,974. Into Mischief has sired 81 winners, including 12 stakes winners, from 262 starters. Mineshaft is the sire of 24 winners from 66 starters; one of those is Senor Buscador, who won the Saudi Cup, was second in the Pegasus World Cup, and third in the Dubai World Cup.

In addition to his own Derby and Oaks candidates, Into Mischief also is likely to be represented in the spring classics by two multiple Grade 1-winning sons, as he continues to build his reputation as a sire of sires. Goldencents is the sire of Derby hopeful Mystik Dan; Practical Joke has Domestic Product in the Derby lineup and Ways and Means for the Oaks.

Into Mischief claimed his fifth consecutive North American general sire earnings title in 2023. That is the most consecutive titles for any stallion since the great Bold Ruler led the list seven straight years, from 1963-69; he added another title in 1973. Bold Ruler is tied with the pre-Civil War stallion Glencoe for the second-most North American sire titles all-time, trailing only the great Lexington, whose career spanned the Civil War while he rolled to an incredible 16 titles. Into Mischief is tied with five other legendary stallions with five titles each, beginning with Sir Charles and Leviathan in the 1800s; Star Shoot in the first quarter of the 1900s; Bull Lea (1947-49, 1952, and 1953); and Bold Ruler’s sire, Nasrullah (1955-56, 1959-60, and 1962). However, none of those sires claimed their titles consecutively.

In addition to Leslie’s Rose, Laurel River, Authentic, Mandaloun, Goldencents, and Practical Joke, Into Mischief’s career Grade 1 winners are champions Covfefe, Gamine, Pretty Mischievous, and Wonder Wheel; and Atone, Audible, Dayoutoftheoffice, Doppelganger, Gina Romantica, Life Is Good, Mia Mischief, Mischevious Alex, Newgate, Played Hard, and Timberlake.

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