Mendelssohn

Mendelssohn cost $3m as a yearling and he didn’t take long to justify his price. After finishing second in Europe’s top juvenile race, the Gr.1 Dewhurst S., he travelled to Del Mar to take the Gr.1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. He began his 3yo campaign with a Listed victory on all-weather and then took the Gr.2 UAE Derby on dirt by an astonishing 18 lengths. Unfortunately, he was unable to give his true running in the Kentucky Derby after being badly bumped in the early stages, but he subsequently confirmed his talent on dirt, taking second place in the Gr.1 Travers S. and third in the Gr.1 Jockey Club Gold Cup.

By the same sire as the world-class sires Justify and No Nay Never, Mendelssohn shares the same dam, Leslie’s Lady, as the brilliant Beholder and multiple champion sire Into Mischief.

Much of Into Mischief’s success has been based on the MR PROSPECTOR line, with eight of his 11 Gr.1 winners being out of mares from this male line. DISTORTED HUMOR has seven SWs among his first 52 starters by Into Mischief. MR PROSPECTOR will be back in the fourth generation of Mendelssohn’s foals. Into Mischief has two black-type winners from seven foals out of CARSON CITY mares. Kentucky Derby winner Authentic has a dam by GONE WEST’s son MR GREELEY, who has 19% SWs with Into Mischief. Gr.1 winners Mia Mischief and Mischevious Alex are out of other grand-daughters of GONE WEST, by SPEIGHTSTOWN, who has 17% SWs with Into Mischief. Mendelssohn already has black-type performers out of mares by SPEIGHTSTOWN and GRAND SLAM.

Scat Daddy sired Graded winners from mares by SMART STRIKE and his son CURLIN, and Mendelssohn’s Gr.2-placed daughter Miracle has a dam by SMART STRIKE. Scat Daddy’s son No Nay Never has two Gr.2 winners out of a mare by Smart Strike’s son ENGLISH CHANNEL.

Both Mendelssohn’s sire Scat Daddy and his half-brother Into Mischief enjoyed success with the UNBRIDLED branch. Scat Daddy sired Graded winners from mares by UNBRIDLED’s sons EMPIRE MAKER and UNBRIDLED’S SONG, with EMPIRE MAKER mares having 20% SWs with Scat Daddy. Scat Daddy also had Graded winners from mares by UNBRIDLED’S SONG’s sons BUDDHA (Gr.1 winner Valid Point), SONGANDAPRAYER, FIRST DEFENCE and ROCKPORT HARBOR.

UNBRIDLED mares have a magnificent 50% GSWs with Into Mischief, thanks to the very talented Covfefe and Gr.2 winners Largent and Private Mission. There are also Gr.1 winners out of daughters of EMPIRE MAKER and UNBRIDLED’S SONG.

Into Mischief is shaping up well with CANDY RIDE mares siring three black-type winners from 24 foals.

Scat Daddy sired Gr.1 winners from SEATTLE SLEW line mares. Into Mischief also did well, with Graded winners out of daughters of MINESHAFT and BERNARDINI (two Gr.3 winners from 25 foals). TAPIT’s daughters produced 43% SWs to Scat Daddy and they have also made a promising start with Into Mischief, notably producing Gr.1 winner Pretty Mischievous. Mendelssohn’s Stakes winner Amanda’s Folly is out of a BOLD RULER line mare.

Scat Daddy and son No Nay Never both have Gr.1 winners with DANZIG line mares. Into Mischief sired the Gr.2 winner Gerrymander from a HARD SPUN mare.

Mendelssohn has already sired black-type horses from mares by MEDAGLIA D’ORO (Gr.2 winner Delight) and his son VIOLENCE.

Scat Daddy sired the great Justify from a mare by GHOSTZAPPER and he has two good performers out of mares by AWESOME AGAIN. This suggests that Mendelssohn should be tried with mares with DEPUTY MINISTER blood.

Scat Daddy’s exceptionally fast daughter Lady Aurelia is inbred 4x3 to STORM CAT. Storm Cat will be back in the fifth generation of Mendelssohn’s foals, so there is ample scope for more STORM CAT blood.

UNCLE MO mares are worth trying as Into Mischief has Gr.1 and Gr.2 winners with dams by INDIAN CHARLIE.

Mares by CHEROKEE RUN and his son KAFWAIN have had Graded success with Into Mischief.