Into Mischief

Into Mischief made his first start on October 21, 2007 in a 6+1⁄2-furlong maiden race at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita. He dueled for the early lead with Bazzoom, running a fast opening quarter mile of 21.87 seconds. Bazoom dropped back on the turn, eventually finishing eleventh. Into Mischief continued to open up his lead under mild urging and won by 2+1⁄2 lengths.[7] He finished second in his next start, the Hollywood Prevue Stakes at Hollywood Park on November 22. He got involved in a three-way duel for the lead on the outside of Massive Drama and Sky Cape, who tired after a half mile and finished tenth. Into Mischief got to within a head of Massive Drama in midstretch, but the latter rallied to win by 1+3⁄4 lengths.[8]

Into Mischief finished his two-year-old campaign by winning the CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park on December 22. In his first "two-turn" race at a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles, his main rivals were Colonel John, favored at 2-1, and Massive Drama at 3-1. Into Mischief was a relative longshot at 14-1. He raced just off the early pace set by Eaton's Gift, who tired on the far turn and finished seventh. Into Mischief took over the lead at the head of the stretch and won comfortably by 1+1⁄2 over a late-closing Colonel John. Mandella said that the colt "put it all together today", and Hughes had thoughts of winning his first Kentucky Derby. "Maybe this horse will be the one."[6][9]

Into Mischief started his three-year-old campaign in the San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita on February 10, 2008, dropping back in distance to seven furlongs. His training for the race had been interrupted when Santa Anita was shut down several times because a newly installed synthetic dirt surface failed to drain properly after heavy rains. Despite this, he went off as the 7-5 favorite in a four horse field that also included Massive Drama and Georgie Boy, winner of the Del Mar Futurity. Into Mischief and Massive Drama vied for the early lead, running the first half mile in :45.27. Into Mischief started to edge away in the stretch but shied when jockey Victor Espinoza went to the whip, briefly shifting leads. He was caught by Georgie Boy, who drew off to win by 3+1⁄4 lengths. "I was lucky to get him to the races," said Mandella, referring to the interrupted training, "but we got through that and at least we're still in the game."[10][11][12]

Despite the loss, Into Mischief was still a highly ranked contender for the 2008 Kentucky Derby. Sportswriter Steve Haskin noted the colt's athleticism and said, "the race served as a good comeback performance that should set him up well for a return to two-turn races."[12] However, Into Mischief developed an abscess in his left hind hoof and missed several weeks of training, taking him off the Triple Crown trail.[13]

He returned to racing on October 25 in the 7-furlong Damascus Stakes, part of the undercard for the 2008 Breeders' Cup held at Santa Anita. The favorite was Georgie Boy at 7-5 with Into Mischief the second choice at 3-1. Into Mischief broke slowly and settled in fifth place along the rail. Rounding the turn he shifted to the outside and began to make up ground. Under a hand ride, he drew off to win by two lengths over Dancing in Silks (who would win the Breeders' Cup Sprint in 2009) with Georgie Boy well back in fourth.[14][15]

Into Mischief made his final start in the seven furlong Malibu Stakes on December 26 at Santa Anita. He was the favorite in a seven-horse field that also included Colonel John (Santa Anita Derby, Travers Stakes), Bob Black Jack (Sunshine Millions Dash), Nownownow (Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf) and Georgie Boy.[16] Bob Black Jack, who had set a world record for six furlongs earlier in the year, went to the early lead and was never headed, winning by 2+1⁄4 lengths. Into Mischief sat back in fifth place during the first half mile, then maneuvered for position and closed late to finish second.[17][18]

Into Mischief finished his career with three wins and three seconds from six starts, and earnings of $597,080.[2]

An asterisk after the odds means Into Mischief was the post-time favorite.

His major stakes winners include:[31][32]

c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding