us stallions
The outstanding sire has had another stellar year and is set to break his own prize-money record, writes Melissa Bauer-Herzog
Into Mischief breaking records
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HILE MOST PEOPLE don’t want to re-live 2020, the team at Spendthrift Farm is more than happy in that its stalwart stallion Into Mischief has enjoyed a near-repeat of last year. Few stallions can better a year in which they sired a Horse of the Year and broke the earnings record – but Into Mischief is one. As of November 7, the stallion was in striking distance of breaking his own 2020 record of $22,506,085 prize-money won in a season, a year which also saw him become the fastest North American stallion ever to sire 100 black-type winners. The stallion also sired his sixth Breeders’ Cup winner when Life Is Good won the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), while last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) winner Gamine finished third in the same race this year. One question still remains for Into Mischief, however – will he become the first stallion to sire two consecutive Kentucky Derby (G1) winners? The stallion’s Grade 1 Haskell Stakeswinning son Mandaloun also finished second in the Kentucky Derby in May. The results still pending after the winner Medina Spirit came up with a positive drug test, but Into Mischief may join an elite group of 19 stallions to sire multiple Kentucky Derby winners, if his son is declared the winner. One spot Into Mischief doesn’t control on the general sires’ list is most Grade 1 winners and performers of 2021 – that honour goes to Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm’s Curlin.
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Curlin: turning things around in style
The two-time Horse of the Year got off to such slow start at stud that he only saw 54 mares in 2013 when his first crop was three, but Curlin’s story has changed dramatically. In 2022, he’ll be standing for $175,000 on the back of this season that saw him sire 37 stakes performers as of November 7 with five Grade 1 winners. Curlin is the sire of two of the best threeyear-old fillies in North America this year with three-time Grade 1 winner and likely champion Malathaat and Cotillion Stakes
winner Clairiere. Those two topped off their season finishing third and fourth against their elders in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) only a few months after giving Curlin the exacta in the Alabama Stakes (G1). Curlin’s three-year-olds are from his first crop conceived off a $150,000 stud fee and, giving a peek into the future, they also account for three of his five Grade 1 winners this year. It’s almost guaranteed that breeders with A.P. Indy-line mares will be taking a close look at Curlin and his sons.
