Mandaloun

Mandaloun is a son of Into Mischief, the dominant stallion of the era. Into Mischief has enjoyed a remarkable career arc which, perhaps, most closely echoes that of his great-grandsire, Storm Cat.

Storm Cat would rise to become North America’s preeminent sire, for many years the most expensive stallion at stud on the continent. He would go on to take the Leading Sire title on two occasions, to earn an unprecedented seven titles as Leading Sire of Two-Year-Olds, and to found a stallion dynasty which has reached its pinnacle with Into Mischief.

Into Mischief has not yet matched Storm Cat’s record number of Leading Sire of Two-Year-Olds titles, although he is closing, as he’s lifted that crown four times in the last six years, and at time of writing, again heads the 2022 standings. He has, however, already eclipsed his sire’s total overall premierships, reigning as North America’s Leading Sire for the last three years, setting and resetting the all-time earnings record. He also appears to have a near uncatchable lead in the race for the 2022 title and is within reach of yet another earnings record.

A fourth title, and that with some of his best-bred crops yet to reach the racetrack, would confirm Into Mischief’s place alongside some of the giants of North American breeding history. In fact, in a span of more than 50 years – an era that included such as Northern Dancer, Seattle Slew, Mr. Prospector, Danzig, Deputy Minister and Giant’s Causeway – no stallion has earned more than three Leading Sire’s titles. The last to do so was Bold Ruler who claimed the honor for the final time in his career in 1969, and before him, in the entire 20^th century, only Star Shoot, Sir Gallahad III, Bull Lea and Nasrullah achieved that feat.

One of the fastest ever stallions to reach the 100 stakes winners mark, Into Mischief is now represented by 115 individual black-type scorers, 12 of them Grade 1. In addition to Mandaloun, they include Horse of the Year Authentic; Champion Three-Year-Old Filly and Champion Sprint Female Sprinter Covfefe; Champion Female Sprinter Gamine; Canadian Champions Conquest Enforcer and Miss Mischief; and current grade one stars Life Is Good and Wonder Wheel.

Into Mischief is now beginning to carve out a career as a sire of sires. All three of his sons to retire to stud in Kentucky with runners have sired Graded stakes winners, and his two Grade 1-winning sons with starters are already Grade 1 sires. The two-time Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (Gr.1) victor, Goldencents led off with millionaires By My Standards and Mr. Money in his first crop, and is also sire of Going to Vegas, a grade one winner in 2021 and 2022, and Practical Joke has four Grade 1 winners from his first two years at stud, including this year’s Frizette Stakes (Gr.1) heroine Chocolate Gelato.

With Mandaloun and several other young sons yet to have runners, Into Mischief, looks set to extend his branch of the Storm Cat line well into the 21^st century.