Eventful renewal sees Spendthrift Farm’s Into Mischief record his tenth Grade One winner
The Juddmonte Farms homebred Mandaloun (3 c ex Brooch by Empire Maker) was the winner of Saturday’s Haskell Stakes (Gr 1, 9f) at Monmouth Park, becoming Grade One winner number ten for his Spendthrift Farm-based sire Into Mischief (Harlan’s Holiday).
Settled down in fourth on the rail, Mandaloun took the lead rounding the home turn and fought it out with Hot Rod Charlie down the straight, with this pair pulling well clear of their rivals. Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) was the first past the post, beating Mandaloun by a nose in a photo finish, however, the Doug O’Neill-trained colt was disqualified for clipping heels with Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow), who stumbled and lost his rider, in the straight.
Following Sea (Runhappy) was given the third placing, having finished just over 18 lengths behind the first two across the line. Antigravity (First Samurai) was third.
Mandaloun has now raced eight times for five wins and two placings, including a second in the Kentucky Derby (Gr 1, 9f) behind Medina Spirit (Protonico).
"To be honest, I don't even think about what could happen with the Kentucky Derby anymore. It's long gone. It's in the past. We just want to march forward with this colt. He's a good horse," said Mandaloun’s trainer Brad Cox.
"We're proud of his performance today. He ran huge."
Mandaloun is one of two winners and the only stakes winner out of Group Two winner Brooch (Empire Maker). His sire, Into Mischief, was crowned champion sire in North America for the past two years and stood the 2021 season for US$225,000.
He currently heads the leading sires table in North America, almost $5,000,000 clear of his nearest rival Curlin (Smart Strike) while Mandaloun his leading earner so far this year.
