From His Majesty to Into Mischief
This column contains two stories, with the first featuring two horses who literally grew up together in the late 1960’s and where fate led them. The second story is about how one of them would become a major influence on the breeding industry, especially through one of his descendants whose impact on the Kentucky Derby trail has been nothing short of remarkable. ~ Steve Haskin
From His Majesty to Into Mischief
By Steve Haskin
Just to give you a brief look at where we are heading, the interlocked histories of the three figures in our story are His Majesty and Good Counsel — both foals of 1968, and Into Mischief, a foal of 2005, and how one might very well have influenced the other’s remarkable success. But first, from a personal perspective, we start with the compelling story of two yearlings who began as best buddies and ended up as adversaries.
The story begins in 1968 at Darby Dan Farm in Lexington, Kentucky with the birth of a full-brother to the farm’s pride and joy and premier stallion Graustark, whose career was cut short when he fractured his coffin bone in the Blue Grass Stakes. At the time, the undefeated son of Ribot, out of Flower Bowl was the shortest price favorite for the Kentucky Derby in the history of the Caliente Future Book, the first and only future wagering on the Derby at that time. So brilliant was Graustark, his jockey Braulio Baeza years later still considered him the best horse he ever rode.
Just for a bit of background, which many of my readers already know from past columns, Graustark was instrumental in me getting a job at the old Morning Telegraph, which changed the entire course of my life. If I hadn’t asked the editor if it was possible to get a copy of his past performances after being rejected for a job because of my inability to type I shudder to think of the dismal places life would have taken me, That is why the birth of his full-brother was so important to me.
Although it was an exciting moment for everyone at Darby Dan Farm, that excitement turned to heartache the following morning when Flower Bowl began to hemorrhage. Sadly, all efforts to save her failed and her foal was raised by a nurse mare and placed under close scrutiny by farm manager Olin Gentry.
When it came time to wean all the youngsters and eventually place them in a large paddock together, Gentry realized he couldn’t risk injury to Graustark’s brother. He was too valuable a prospect, so Gentry put him in his own small paddock right next to the yearling barn. But horses are social animals, and Gentry knew he had to find a yearling with an easy-going temperament to serve, not only as paddock mate, but a calming influence on the feisty Ribot colt, who had inherited the spirit of his sire, as well as his brother.
Gentry chose a son of Hail to Reason, out of Polylady, and the two of them hit it off immediately. I had the good fortune of not only visiting them that winter of 1969, but again in the spring. And with my trusty Kodak Instamatic camera I took numerous photos of them, one of which actually appeared in the Morning Telegraph and another in the Daily Racing Form years later. One showed the two colts standing nose to nose, nuzzling each other, and the other was of them both up on their hind legs wrestling, with the Ribot colt’s front legs up on the Hail to Reason colt’s shoulders. It was apparent the two of them had become the best of friends and were inseparable. They went out together, rollicked together, spent quiet times together, and returned to the barn together.
His Majesty and Good Counsel as yearling paddock pals at Darby Dan Farm.
But as anyone who works on a farm knows, friendships are fleeting. Soon, the carefree life was over and the babies were sent to the Columbus, Ohio area farm to be broken. The two colts now had other things on their mind and both learned their lessons quickly.
The following year, the Ribot colt, now named His Majesty, was sent to trainer Dave Erb at Belmont Park, while the Hail to Reason colt, now named Good Counsel, was shipped to Darby Dan’s European trainer Vincent O’Brien in Ireland. Soon after, longtime assistant Lou Rondinello replaced Erb as trainer, and could tell right away that His Majesty was something special. He had grown into a handsome, powerhouse of a colt who showed great promise in the mornings.
After breaking his maiden by five lengths in his second start at Aqueduct on November 27, 1970, he was shipped to Hialeah Park where he scored an impressive victory in an allowance race. Then came an incredible performance in the seven-furlong Bahamas Stakes, in which he finished third, beaten a half-length by Graustark’s son Jim French, despite being forced into the rail and stumbling badly. Even Joe Hirsch raved about his performance and the courage he showed in his column in the Racing Form.
Following a gutsy head victory over Jim French in the 1 1/8-mile Everglades Stakes, in which he barely snuck through a tiny opening along the rail, His Majesty became one of the early favorites for the 1971 Kentucky Derby, along with Hoist the Flag, who would suffer a near-fatal, career-ending injury while training for the Gotham Stakes. His Majesty now looked to be the Derby favorite as he headed to the Flamingo Stakes.
But in the Flamingo, he again got stuck down on the inside and again hit the rail, finishing sixth behind Executioner. The following day, X-rays revealed a chip fracture in the right front pastern. Like his brother, he was off the Derby trail. Following surgery, he was sent back to Darby Dan to recuperate and did not return to the races for nine months.
Meanwhile, Good Counsel, had finished second and fourth in his two starts in Ireland. With His Majesty on the sidelines, it was decided to send Good Counsel back to America, where he won three of his first four starts before finishing third in the Travers Stakes and winning the Rosemont Stakes at Delaware Park.
When His Majesty returned in December, it took him several races to get back in top form. Now reunited for the first time since their days on the farm, His Majesty and Good Counsel were sent to Santa Anita, where they ran well, but never really took to the hard surfaces.
Then it was on to Hialeah and the March 25, 1972 Widener Handicap at 1 1/4 miles, one of the most prestigious races in the country for older horses. What followed was something right out of Hollywood.
With Braulio Baeza aboard, His Majesty went to the lead and set testing fractions of :22 4/5, :46 1/5, and 1:10 1/5 while under pressure throughout. He then found another gear turning for home and opened a two-length lead at the eighth pole and looked to be home free. But, seemingly out of nowhere, here came Good Counsel under Angel Cordero charging down the stretch and closing the gap with every stride.
Good Counsel pulled on even terms with His Majesty, and the pair drew off from the rest of the field. Through the final sixteenth, they were as inseparable as they had been in their paddock as yearlings. All that was missing was the wrestling. Here were two buddies who had grown up together and played together, sharing the same paddock for some seven months, now eyeballing each other in a desperate battle to the wire.
Good Counsel, left, defeating His Majesty by a nose in the 1972 Widener Handicap.
They hit the finish line as one, and it took a photo to determine that Good Counsel had just nosed out his more illustrious stablemate. It was not the result all those at Darby Dan had hoped for, as His Majesty was their big stallion prospect, and everyone, including Rondinello, knew he was far more talented than the hard-knocking, blue-collar Good Counsel.
The newspaper headlines the next day referred to His Majesty and Good Counsel as “Darby Dan’s Dynamic Duo.” They had come a long way since those carefree days playing in the paddock.
That was the last time they would meet in competition. His Majesty injured a stifle the day of the Hawthorne Gold Cup and was sidelined for five months. During that time Good Counsel won the Longfellow Handicap at Monmouth, and then was retired sound to Darby Dan. His Majesty returned again in 1973, but his hard luck continued. After setting a new track record of 1:46 2/5 for 1 1/8 miles at Hialeah, reeling off blazing fractions of 1:09 1/5 and 1:33 4/5, he suffered a bowed tendon in the Donn Handicap, ending an ill-fated career that had once shown so much promise.
His Majesty and Good Counsel were now back together again and placed in adjoining paddocks. All day long they would race each other back and forth just like the old days until it reached a point where Gentry had to separate them. As their groom Floyd Williams said, “I think His Majesty was trying to get even for the time Good Counsel beat him.”
His Majesty went on to become the leading sire in the country in 1982 and continued the Ribot line through his son, Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Pleasant Colony, and Pleasant Colony’s sons Pleasant Tap and Pleasantly Perfect, not to mention Pleasant Tap’s sons Premium Tap and Tiago. Pleasant Colony and Pleasant Tap alone have won or sired the winners of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont Stakes, Breeders’ Cup Classic, Dubai World Cup, Japan Cup, Irish Derby, Jockey Club Gold Cup, Santa Anita Handicap, Santa Anita Derby, Arlington Million, Woodward Stakes, Dubai Duty Free, and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (all Grade1).
His Majesty also sired the Darby Dan-bred filly Andover Way, who produced Dynaformer, sire of numerous grade 1 winners, including Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro. To demonstrate his versatility as a sire, in addition to Barbaro he sired Melbourne Cup winner Americain, St. Leger winner Lucarno, and five-time Breeders’ Cup Grand National Steeplechase winner McDynamo.
His Majesty’s daughter Ribbon produced Preakness and Belmont winner Risen Star, and his son Cormorant sired Kentucky Derby winner Go For Gin. And he is the maternal great-grandsire of Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Street Sense. So you can see how strong his influence has been, especially on the classics.
In Europe, His Majesty’s daughter Razyana produced Danehill, who sired a record 349 stakes winners, 89 of which were group or grade 1. Danehill was the leading sire in Australia nine times, as well as leading sire in Great Britain, Ireland, and France, and leading broodmare sire in North America. He also sired the winners of 33 classics around the world and is now found in the pedigree of many U.S. stakes winners. At the 2026 Royal Ascot meet, no fewer than seven Group winners trace to Danehill.
Good Counsel didn’t have much success as a stallion and died in 1987 of laminitis. But he did sire Sanhedrin, who finished second to Seattle Slew in the Wood Memorial and third to Slew in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.
The once grand-looking His Majesty eventually began to deteriorate physically. In 1994, he had fallen off a mare in the breeding shed, and it was obvious the end was near. According to John Phillips of Darby Dan, he just lay on the ground for a while and looked up at him.
“He had very sad eyes,” Phillips said several years ago. “When I bent down to pet him, he just looked up at me and it was like he was letting me know his time was up.”
Shortly after, His Majesty began to lose weight and became extremely weak in his hind end. The decision finally was made to euthanize him.
I just happened to be in Kentucky at the time and went to pay His Majesty a visit, knowing it could be the last time I’d ever see him. What I found was an empty stall and a freshly dug grave next to the graves of Graustark and Ribot. Of course, I knew immediately that His Majesty, the horse I had followed from the day he was born and watched grow up with his buddy Good Counsel, was gone.
His Majesty lies next to his brother and sire on a grassy area next to the stallion barn with a large headstone for all to see as they drive by. Good Counsel’s grave was located in the main grave site with a smaller headstone outside the yearling barn, just a few yards from where he and His Majesty had played together more than a half-century ago. When I went to visit his grave in 2026 the headstone was gone.
But His Majesty’s influence was far from over. Going back to 1977, he sired a filly named Battle Creek Girl. Bred by Darby Dan, she was out of their mare Far Beyond, who also produced Female Turf Champion Soaring Softly, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf and other major stakes, as well as Plenty of Grace, winner of five graded stakes, including the Yellow Ribbon, Diana, Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup, and New York Handicap.
Battle Creek Girl won only three of her 20 starts for earnings of just over $40,000. Bred to Clever Trick, she produced the hard-knocking Tricky Creek, who won or placed in stakes at 11 different racetracks in eight different states. The quality of this line seemed to be declining when Tricky Creek was bred to the Canadian-bred Crystal Lady, who ran six times at Greenwood and Fort Erie, all claiming races, and was claimed for $5,000.
Not much was expected from Crystal Lady’s ’96 foal, who sold at the Keeneland January mixed sale as a newly turned yearling for only $8,000 with the intention of pinhooking her. Later that year, James T. Hines Jr. made one of the great purchases of all time when he bought Crystal Lady’s yearling for $27,000 at the Keeneland September sale. Sadly he never got to realize just how great a purchase that was.
He named the filly Leslie’s Lady after his wife, in whose name she ran until Jim filed a petition for dissolution of their marriage in 1998. Leslie’s Lady broke her maiden in her second start for a $50,000 claiming tag, then four races later, won again for a $40,000 claiming tag at Ellis Park. Trained by Bob Holthus, she looked to be improving with every start, winning the Hoosier Park Debutante Stakes by four lengths, but won only one of her next 20 starts before being retired.
On February 21, 2006, with Leslie’s Lady having already produced three foals, a 3-year-old filly by Marquetry, a 2-year-old colt by Orientate, and a yearling colt by Harlan’s Holiday, and with Hines looking forward to the Derby trail with his homebred Lawyer Ron, he was found dead in the indoor swimming pool at his home near Owensboro, Kentucky.
Later that year at the Keeneland November mixed sale, Leslie’s Lady was sold by Hines’ estate for $100,000 to Clarkland Farm in foal to Orientate. A month earlier, her Harlan’s Holiday yearling was sold for $80,000 at the Fasig-Tipton October sale to Gage Hill Stable, who pinhooked him the following March at the Ocala Breeders 2-year-old sale for $180,000 to B. Wayne Hughes of Spendthrift Farm.
He was named Into Mischief and after a brief six-race career, in which he won the Grade 1 Cash Call Futurity and placed in three other graded states, he was retired and would become one of the most successful and influential sires of his time.
So Leslie’s Lady, a mediocre two-time claimer, out of a $5,000 claimer, wound up leaving quite a legacy. When Stedham Stud bought her for $8,000 they had to be happy selling her right back for three times the price they paid for her. When James T. Hines Jr. bought her for only $27,000, it could have been a life-changing purchase, but he didn’t live long enough to reap the rewards. When Clarkland Farm bought her for $100,000, they missed out on Into Mischief, but wound up breeding his sister, Hall of Famer and four-time Eclipse Award winner Beholder, a Grade 1 winner at 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, as well as her brother, $2.5 million earner Mendelssohn, winner of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and UAE Derby who they sold to Coolmore for $3 million.
That brings us to the Derby trail and the impact of Into Mischief, who has already sired three Kentucky Derby winners — Mandaloun (by DQ), Authentic, and Sovereignty. He currently has no less than 10 promising colts on the 2026 Derby trail, headed by Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Hopeful, and Breeder’s Futurity winner and likely 2-year-old champion Ted Noffey, owned by Spendthrift Farm, as well as the graded stakes-placed Renegade and Plutarch, and impressive winners Rebel Instinct, Cannoneer, Into the Beast, Commandment, Provenance, Envision, and even the top Japanese 3-year-old dirt horse Santono Voyage.
What boggles the mind is the little regard in which Into Mischief’s female family was held through the years, and how no one knew what they were getting when they purchased him, his dam, and his granddam. To fully demonstrate that, seven months after Into Mischief was purchased by Hughes, and a year after his dam Leslie’s Lady was purchased by Clarkland Farm from Hines’ estate, Leslie’s Lady’s dam Crystal Lady was sold at public auction for a meager $1,000.
In one final bit of irony tying both these stories together, Into Mischief is inbred top and bottom to Hail to Reason, the sire of His Majesty’s buddy Good Counsel.
In summation, with the amazing success of Into Mischief coming as a surprise to everyone associated with the colt, I am going to give a lot of the credit to His Majesty. Not only did he pass on his class, stamina, and brilliance to the three aforementioned Derby winners, he also passed on his physical traits, as he did to Into Mischief. All are big strong bays with white ankles. His Majesty had three, Authentic has four, and Into Mischief, Mandaloun, and Sovereignty have two. And all five have some form of white markings on their face, whether a star, a stripe, or a blaze.
Leading sire Into Mischief at Spendthrift Farm
And let’s not forget the other 2026 Derby hopefuls who trace to His Majesty, such as Grade 1 Champagne winner Napoleon Solo, Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity winner Brant, Grade 1 American Pharoah winner Intrepido, Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity winner Litmus Test, Gunner Runner Stakes runner-up Liberty National, and the brilliant maiden winner Englishman. If you include His Majesty’s full-brother Graustark, who started it all, then you can add his descendants, Grade 2 Remsen winner Paladin and In Reality Stakes winner Strategic Risk. So just about every major 2-year-old stakes this year was won by a descendent of His Majesty, with his full-brother adding a couple more.
So that is the story of His Majesty and Good Counsel, and Into Mischief and their connection. Whether it’s humans or horses, sometimes strengths and other positive traits can languish or even seem to vanish as they pass through the generations, but eventually wind up getting passed on to those who were meant to receive them. I will always look at Into Mischief and his three Derby winners and see His Majesty, whose vision has been ingrained in my memory since I first laid eyes on him as a yearling more than 50 years ago.
Photos courtesy of Darby Dan Farm, Steve Haskin, Hialeah Park and Spendthrift Farm.
Racing historian, author, and award-winning retired journalist for the Daily Racing Form and The Blood-Horse, Steve Haskin was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame’s Media Roll of Honor in 2016. Known for his racing knowledge and insightful prose, he has been an exclusive contributor to Secretariat.com since 2020.
You are the best Steve. Thank you for the great read.
Thank you Howard.
Nearly.
Was very impressed. When’s the first future pool?
Hey CLOWNSKILL, see below.
Pool 1, 10-29 thru 10-31
Pool 2, 11-27 thru 11-30
Pool 3, 1-16 thru 1-1-18
Pool 4, 2-13 thru 2-15
Pool 5, 3-13 thru 3-15
Pool 6, 4-2 thru 4-4
Good luck!
BTW, Nearly was not listed in Pool 1 or Pool2, maybe he’ll show up on Pool 3.
I read Ceasars is now listing him at 100-1.
He. Moved way up on my list as you will see in this week’s column
I understand the big favorite scratched the other day in the N1X but he loped up alongside the 3-5 Cox entry and ran right by him.
Here is why The Kentucky Derby is such a great wager…. Sovereignty went off 8-1….the exacta with Journalism went off 23-1….
The nominees for divisional championships have been announced. You can download free PPs at DRF. Steve, I’d love to know your preferences! Perhaps a mention in tomorrow’s column?
To be honest I don’t pay much attention ro the Eclipse Awards.
Ditto!
I commend you for that!
Thanks.
Another out standing story ,Steve. This old girl always learns something new from your articles. Great reads and I also am so impressed with your ability to pick topics, horses and people so removed yet so near to horseracing today. You make the connections. Thank You
Thank you very much Diane.
I really liked this column. In His Majesty’s era John Galbreath’s Darby Dan Farm was my favorite owner of thoroughbreds, and I loved their horses and bloodlines. Unfortunately, in those days a lot of information was not readily available in Vermont and I learned a lot from reading this. I knew nothing about His Majesty’s lovely friendship with Good Counsel or about his mother’s death following his birth. Reading about the passing of these horses brought sadness even after all these years. It’s a beautifully written account.
As for Into Mischief, I learned something there, too. I was always mystified as to what made him such a great stallion. While there is nothing wrong with his pedigree or race record, I saw nothing there that would account for his dominance as a sire. Maybe it is the genes of His Majesty that are manifesting themselves now in this horse. I like the line that they were “passed on to those who were meant to receive them.” Into Mischief must have been meant to receive them–I can think of no other explanation–and after reading this, I too will think of His Majesty when I look at Into Mischief’s sons.
Happy New Year, Steve!
I was wondering if you could possibly find out what is up with Romeo? He’s had 3 works since the Hopeful, none since October. I don’t even know if he’s still with Steve Asmussen. Someone said his certificate is at Turfway, but I’m not sure if that’s true or relevant. I feel like the Hopeful was too bad to be true, and I hope we’ll get to see him again
Also, do you know if Margie’s Intention is still with Cox? I don’t even know if she’s been retired or if she’ll race in 2026 – she was purchased by Delta Squad Racing & Michael Dubb in November
Thanks!!
I was more impressed with Strategic Risk, than the Gulfstream winner ….I thought the Gulfstream field was weak—-and while Strategic Risk had a dream trip—he came home beautifully ….and FAST! He’s an improving horse, and a two-turn dynamo—
Hi Matthew, I’ve missed a few weeks with the holidays, so excuse me if I missed an update from you on your eyes, how are you doing these days?
Well I lost the sight, in my left eye…Neurological Opthalmologist said I suffered an optic stroke, my eyes are FINE, but the nerve does not go into the eye, I’ll not go fully blind, but it’s mostly blind….came sudden….big loss, I can only drive close to home, and even that is iffy…..thanks for your concern..
Matthew, I really liked Strategic Risk’s performance too. I like that he’s an Oxley homebred, and he’s already in my initial top 12. As for Commandment, he has a lot of upside. We’ll see how that proves out when he gets tested in his next start.
I’m so sorry you vision troubles continue. Be EXTRA careful when driving, even if it is close to home.
Yes, thank you…it’s seven blocks to the creek bed, where I walk my dogs…and five blocks to the supermarket….in the mornings I see better, my right eye is still pretty good …but I bus everywhere else, now…..
Every year it seems….the Florida Stallion winner looks like a contender, and I always pass, on him—but Strategic Risk looks like a ten furlong type! Commandment did romp home, at Gulfstream, I need to see him around two turns, and vs better stock…it’s early—I like Liberty National and Risk Management ..Ted Noffey or course….thank you about my vision….
Commandment, by Into Mischief, out of Sippican Harbor, by Orb, won the Mucho Macho Man Stakes by open lengths. I would think Cox will keep him at GP, pointing to the Holy
Bull, and/or the FOY. Into Mischief and Orb need no introduction, but I like to point out that Commandment’s dam, Sippican Harbor, won the G1 Spinster Stakes.
Bottom line, Commandment has a bright future down the road, IMO.
I liked his race a lot, too. My list of three-year-olds to watch has gone from five to six–Ted Noffey, Further Ado, Paladin, Renegade, Balboa, and now Commandment. I too expect good things from him.
Jiffy, I like many of the same horses, especially the first three you named. I was surprised that Balboa lost to My World, but My World seems to be an improving horse and he’s on a roll. I just hope Brad gets him out of New York. It’s been a tough, cold winter up here so far (lots of snow!) and doesn’t look like it’s going to ease up.
I had not seen the Jerome when I posted, but I’m not abandoning Balboa. He’s undoubtedly the longest shot on my list, but he’s a gutsy horse and I still like him. I did find My World very impressive, though. Maybe my list should now go from six to seven.
As for the weather, I’m in Vermont. Winter came early and it’s been a cold, tough one here, too. It’s a good time to think Derby thoughts.
Can we leave all the Bob Baffert prognosticating and predictions to a story about this year’s three year olds?
Thanks
Not a Bob Baffert fan, I take it. As far as a story about this year’s three year olds, Steve Haskin will post his initial Derby Dozen in due course.
BTW, just as a reminder, this site has an “open forum” policy. It is not your place to dictate what others should post or not post.
Have a nice day Sovereignty.
Tell that to “Nick”.
Exactly. He will post about them in due course. Right here, right now, let’s discuss His Majesty and Into Mischief!
There you go again, attempting to dictate what others should post on this open forum site. Give it a rest Sovereignty.
BTW, in an earlier comment, I praised Steve for his in-depth article on Into Mischief, and the legacy he has established as the leading sire over the past two years. It’s probably very hard for you but try and keep up.
Where were you last week when ‘Nick’ attempted to censor my comment?
Well OK , but …this is a Derby oriented blog—and the guy is head and shoulders above all of the other trainers, combined, regarding The Triple Crown …so there’s that ..
However, if we could just stick to the topic, I think it will promote a better discussion.
Agreed!
After winning his first two starts, including the G1 Del Mar Futurity, Brant finished 3rd in the BC Juvenile, just 1 1/2 lengths behind the winner, Ted Noffey. By Gun Runner, out of a Liam’s Map mare, this Bob Baffert trained $3 million dollar colt, has not recorded an official workout since the Breeder’s Cup.
If there’s anyone out there that can provide any information on his current status, I would appreciate hearing from you.
Thanks.
I already have texted Baffert. Waiting for his reply.
Many thanks, Steve. With your connections, I knew I could count on you to provide the latest news on Brant.
Baffert getting back to me is no guarantee
I understand. With the vast number of horses in his barn, I’m sure he stays busy, 24/7.
Baffert has backed off on him. Giving him time. Same with Boyd.
Hi Steve
Thanks for updating Brant’s current status, much appreciated.
Any thoughts on Commandment’s impressive performance in the MMM Stakes?
Thanks.
Maybe some of Bob’s famous “patience” is the answer, right? I think Brant is beautifully bred, and wish him the best. I think it is best to save your 3 year old powder and wait until late February or March to run your Derby hopefuls. All TC winners but that one questionable horse have followed the same timeline.
Exactly! Good observation!
Did you see Steve’s reply? My guess was spot on!
And it was.
Hi Sovereignty
If in fact, Baffert intends to rest Brant, until February or March, then so be it.
In addition to Brant, Baffert has four other legitimate prospects on the Derby trail.
Those four are: Boyd, Buetane, Litmus Test and Plutarch. From my perspective, Brant appears to be the best colt in the Baffert barn, at least at this juncture.
I was so impressed with his 3rd place finish in the BC Juvenile, I boxed him with Ted Noffey, in a $50.00 exacta, in Pool 1. Last year I boxed Sovereignty with Journalism, (same wager) and collected over $4K. I hope I can repeat that in this year’s KD, which would pay close to that same amount.
Buetane has not shown himself to be capable in top company. Both won a listed stakes but the horse that ran 2nd was 6th in the Breeder’s Futurity, so to call him a top prospect is really misleading, as well. Litmus Test ran 3rd in the Claiborne Futurity, beat no one in the Grade 2 Los Al race, and may be Bob’s best shot this year. Plutarch took 5 tries before breaking maiden and Bob threw him into stakes company way too early – that horse is probably fried & is entered in a non-points Eddie Logan. That should tell you something.
I like Ted Noffey, but I think the final furlong of the Derby might prove to be too much for him.
I meant Boyd … stupid auto-correct!!! lol
I didn’t use the term “top prospects” I said they were “legitimate prospects”, and I continue to believe that.
Sovereignty, agreed! Currently Ted Noffey is far advanced at the moment. And to your point, Plutarch possibly cooked.
Hello all.
Been MIA, tablet issues. New laptop arrived today. Will take a couple days to set-up.
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!
Steve, the photo of your grandchildren was precious!
Have not read this article but plan to catch up later.
Sad news this morning. Former jockey Diane Crump passed away on Thursday.
She had been battling glaboblastomia. Decided to spend her remaining time with her family snd loved ones.
Condolences to her family and friends.
Thanks for posting about Diane, Lynda. I’m so sorry she passed away.
I’m glad you mentioned Diane Crump, Lynda. She was a trailblazer! I, too, was sorry to hear of her passing.
Glad I got to write about her this past year.
Thanks Lynda for sharing about Diane Crump. So sad she left us too soon. She was a great one
Fabulous history. I had to read it three times (and two cups of coffee!) to absorb it all. Cheers to Crystal Lady and Tricky Creek for passing everything on.
Such marvelous origin stories. Thanks, Steve. I love hearing about how certain sires “stamp” their offspring from attitude to markings. You’re the master.
I appreciate that James . Thank you !
Thanks very much Judi. As long as all that caffeine wasnt to keep you awake.😁
RE: Smarty Jones Stakes, Oaklawn Park, Saturday, 1-3 (10 Derby points).
A very competitive field of nine, will attempt to earn those Derby points on their way down the Derby trail. I’ve got a couple of Futures bets on Rancho Santa Fe, (win & exactas) who happens to be the morning line favorite at 5/2. However, after taking a close look at this race, I’m convinced that Universe is the colt to beat, at 3-1.
He’s in the capable hands of Ken McPeek, who’s record speaks for itself, (Mystik Dan, 2024 KD winner).
As a longshot, Oscar’s Hope looks enticing at 8-1 (5: 3-2-0).
Safe trips to all.
I like both horses too, Bill. I’d be surprised if one of them doesn’t win. Good luck with that futures bet — it may pay off in the long run.
Thanks, Ms Blacktype
Universe is the class of the field, which usually points to the winner. I’m hoping Rancho Santa Fe gives Universe all he can handle. As I mentioned in an earlier comment, one of these days, a Tapit colt will win the Kentucky Derby. One thing for sure, Cox will have RSF ready for the Smarty Jones.
Good luck.
It looks like Brian Hernandez has opted for Sleepingonfreedom, instead of Universe….I went with the Florida Stallion winner, Strategic Risk—McPeek has some nice three year olds, this year—good luck, Bill..
Hi Matthew
Great call on Strategic Risk. I’m sorry to hear about the eyesight issues you’re facing. Stay strong.
Best of luck to you as well.
Happy New Year, Steve, et al! This was a great read. Angel Cordero and Good Counsel didn’t read the script, did they?
They don’t appreciate a good ending.
Thanks Steve for your outstanding article to close 2025. You are to be always commended for reflecting the glory of the past into the brilliance of the present. It is a good way to promote horse racing as it is presented as rooted in tradition and heritage.
I am a huge fan of Ribot and look for his presence in the families of great Thoroughbreds. I see Ribot as the oasis of stamina in the vast landscape of speed in American pedigrees. Some of the greatest runners of this Century carry his blood – Zenyatta, American Pharoah, Forever Young and Flightline…
His Majesty like Secretariat has his daughters to continue cementing his lasting genetic legacy.
Into Mischief can certainly thank His Majesty for the deeds of his sons at the Classics.
Now to Aqueduct to watch Flavien Prat attempting to surpass Irad Ortiz Jr. in 2025 earnings … the French rider got six more races to fetch $139,000 to get the lead…
Happy new year for you and your family and to all your distinguished followers…!
Thanks ao much Nelson. The links through the generations have always fascinated me. Happy New Year.
Nelson, Happy New Year!
Happy New Year Mike!!!
Tamara retired unsound….her dam ran 26 times and retired sound, her sire ran a handful of starts and retired injured…..the top two sires, Into Mischief and Not This Time both had a handful of starts and retired injured…..lite racing careers and heavy books—250/per—–thins out the blood lineage, vital bloodline can get lost —perhaps they were vital, for soundness,, but this century has become “Breeding to Breed” philosophy, you will have to look hard, to find sires that made TWENTY starts….I hear Tamara will be bred to Omaha Beach, I like Omaha Beach—maybe he had ten starts?
We had a sire in California named Unusual Heat, who sired sound runners ….but look at all the new sires, and their career starts….some retired sound, some did not……slight racing careers, and heavy stud careers, what can go wrong?….
Also, Barnes is retired. $3.2 mil doesn’t go as far as it once did.
I don’t think they lost money….he won two graded stakes, probably worth more than his purchase price right now …
Matthew, you’re correct. However, as you remember a short year ago this was the buzz horse,with some predicting winning the Derby months prior. Over hyped!
He sure was over hyped….when Journalism blew past, in the San Felipe—we all knew what Bob knew: he wasn’t a two turn horse! THIS YEAR—Bob doesn’t have the “buzz” horse, the Barnes, the Nysos….and I like one of his guys, named Litmus Tesft—-hes a longshot…my #1 guy is Liberty National, I latched onto him like I was onto Journalism early—gives me something to look forward to—-Happy New Year, Mike …
Appreciate your astute knowledge, Matthew. Happy New Year!
Thanks for the unsoundness commentary. Looks to me like Candy Ride and Gun Runner are producing sound two turn runners. Should be an interesting year in regards to winners, soundness, and stamina to go two turns.
Wonderful story as only you can tell it.
Another great article by my good friend Steve Haskins. The best!!!
Just looked in the wayback machine and realized Into Mischief will set a record if he sires another Kentucky Derby winner. Four other horses have sired three — Bull Lea, Sir Gallahad, Falsetto and Virgil — but unless I miscounted, none sired four.
Great stat.
Sorry to hear about retirement of Tamara.
Steve, I remember both horses, but at 87 years of age I had forgotten their careers. Thanks for the memories.
Steve,
Great article this week. I like when you give us a little history lesson and then link it to the present as it makes for a very enjoyable read. Who would have thought that Into Mischief who on the maternal side having a lowly pedigree would turn out to be such a prolific sire… I guess the gene pool works in mysterious ways.
Have a great rest of the week.
I am going to research the offspring of Flower Bowl, if there were any others. Was she ever named Broodmare of the Year? Thank you Steve as always for the excellent article.
She also produced a top class filly named Bowl of Flowers who won several big races.
Well THAT was a fun read. I lived it, but you know, you forget details. Thank you for bringing it all back.
One more Into Mischief 2YO that shows promise on the Derby Trail is Satono Voyage, winner of the Cattleya Sho in Japan and trained by Hiroyasu Tanaka. His dam, Jolie Olimpica, won graded turf stakes in her native Brazil, Canada, and the U.S. Satono Voyage is being pointed to the Saudi Derby.
Another fascinating bit of thoroughbred history. His Majesty was extremely valuable from the moment of his birth and was clearly injury prone, and yet he was allowed to recover and continue racing. That would never happen today.
I got too close to Graustark’s stall one day, and he reached out and bit me. I didn’t begrudge him his entertainment, but I did wear that bruise for a couple weeks.
You weren’t the first. 🙂
A fitting tribute to Ribot, a direct descendent of Eclipse, and a two time winner of the Arc, His Majesty’s sire!
The first feature I ever had published was on Ribot and his groom Floyd. That was back in the early 1970s for Stud and Stable magazine in England. What a character he was. One of my favorite photos is of Ribot, me, and Bing Crosby, who was visiting Darby Dan and we had a nice talk.
Wow! You certainly have had a charmed life, Steve!
One of my favorite articles. The relationship between Good Counsel and His Majesty, as well as how their lives ended, reminds us that horses are flesh, blood, beings, not statistics on a screen. We can’t go back to what racing was, but those photos really capture the time in a way no modern digital photograph can. The way fate and Graustark brought you to this place in your life is a reminder that if we find ourselves in a good place, we should not regret one moment that brought us here, because one change changes everything.
So beautifully said Todd. Thank you very much.
I loved reading this. All I can say is WOW! I enjoyed reading about the lineage and how it traces to today’s runners. You did a lot of research. I thoroughly enjoy reading your columns. Thank you Steve.
I appreciate it Suzie. Thank you!
Wow and wow. The research. Thank you. I find the lineage so fascinating. The stories of the connections as well. Thank you for the photographs as well. A great read. So enjoyed it.
Thank you Delrene. Writing it was cathartic for me.
Bravo, Steve. I’ve been hoping you would devote an in-depth article on Into Mischief, and the legacy he has established as the current leading sire. In addition to the seven Into Mischief colts you mentioned on the Derby trail, I would add Commandment. He’s entered in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes at GP, on Saturday 1-3. I like he’s chances to hit the wire first. I’ve got a $20.00 win bet on him in Pool 2, at 69-1. Other Into Mischief colts that I have Derby Futures bets on are as follows:
Plutarch, $40.00 to win, at 76-1, (Pool 1)
Into the Beast, $20.00 to win, at 213-1 (Pool 2)
In addition, I keyed Ted Noffey on top, with Into the Beast, Renegade (63-1) and Gallivant (248-1), in a $4.00 exacta wager, in Pool 2.
Will we see back-to-back Into Mischief colts winning the KD? If Ted Noffey stays healthy, there’s a strong possibility that could happen.
Thanks again, for this fascinating article on His Majesty, Good Counsel and especially Into Mischief.
Missed Commandment. I added him. Thanks.
You’re welcome, Steve.
I was 14 year old paperboy ..that 1972 Strub Series…in addition to His Majesty and Good Counsel, there were Triple Bend, Unconscious and Autobiography, I was not very expert, in judging them, but I was blown away by the LOOKS, of His Majesty and Triple Bend…
Beautiful
An amazing amount of knowledge and research went into this article. Am I surprised? No. It’ what we’ve come to expect of you, Steve.
Thank you very much Robin. I really appreciate it.
Wow all the connections and the way you put it all together. Into mischief is one of my all-time favorites. I’ve visited him twice. Thank you so much for writing this ❤️
You got your job at the Telly by asking for Graustark’s past performances?! I must have missed that column.
Love this interweaving of tales about the two colts who played in a paddock together, then competed against each other at the highest level — and ultimately, His Majesty’s appearance in the pedigree of Into Mischief, the hottest sire of our time.
Another great piece. Many thanks, Steve!
So good Steve. Even after 5 plus years of reading your columns, all I know is that I know that I know so little. But you’ve inspired me to bring the next generation to the track and next year I think the third, little Gabrielle, who will be not more than 3, may be ready for a little Saratoga time.
Good for you Angela. We all have to try to keep the cycle going. I sure havent succeeded here so we have to depend on others to reach the younger generations .