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., Mendelssohn travelled to Del Mar to take the Gr.1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. But he wasn’t a one-dimensional turf horse. 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, to earn a shot at the Kentucky Derby.
Unfortunately, he was unable to give his true running at Churchill Downs 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 Triple Crown winner and sensational young sire Justify, Mendelssohn shares the same dam, Leslie’s Lady, as the brilliant Beholder and the multiple champion sire Into Mischief. Much of Into Mischief’s success has been based on the MR PROSPECTOR line, with 12 of his Gr.1 winners being out of mares from this male line. His Gr.1 winners Life Is Good, Practical Joke and Goldencents are all out of grand-daughters of FORTY NINER. DISTORTED HUMOR, the broodmare sire of Life Is Good and Practical Joke, now has 10 BTWs and numerous Graded-placed winners among his first 60 starters by Into Mischief. There is also a Gr.3 winner with a dam by DISTORTED HUMOR’s son FLOWER ALLEY.
As MR PROSPECTOR will be back in the fourth generation of Mendelssohn’s foals, there is scope to add extra lines. Into Mischief has two black-type winners from eight foals out of CARSON CITY mares and a Gr.3 winner out of a mare by Carson City’s son FIVE STAR DAY, which suggests CITY ZIP mares. Kentucky Derby winner Authentic has a dam by GONE WEST’s son MR GREELEY, who has 17% BTWs with Into Mischief. Gr.1 winners Mia Mischief and Mischevious Alex are out of other grand-daughters of GONE WEST, by SPEIGHTSTOWN, who has 18% BTWs with Into Mischief. Into Mischief also has BTWs out of mares by GONE WEST’s sons ELUSIVE QUALITY, GRAND SLAM and PROUD CITIZEN. Mendelssohn already has black-type performers out of mares by SPEIGHTSTOWN and GRAND SLAM. Mares by MR GREELEY and ELUSIVE QUALITY should work well.
Scat Daddy sired Graded winners from mares by SMART STRIKE and his son CURLIN, and Mendelssohn has started well with both these stallions. His SW Committee of One and Gr.2-placed daughter Miracle have dams by SMART STRIKE, while Gr.3 winner Mendelssohn Bay and SW Alla Breve are out of CURLIN mares. STREET CRY is broodmare sire of two of Scat Daddy’s Gr.1 winners.
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% BTWs with Scat Daddy. Scat Daddy also had GWs from mares by UNBRIDLED’S SONG’s sons BUDDHA (Gr.1 winner Valid Point), SONGANDAPRAYER, FIRST DEFENCE andROCKPORT HARBOR. This suggests mares by BROKEN VOW, PIONEEROF THE NILE, BODEMEISTER andAMERICAN PHAROAH.
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 andUNBRIDLED’S SONG, with EMPIRE MAKER’s contribution including Mandaloun and Laurel River. Into Mischief also has a fine record with mares by SONGANDAPRAYER, notably siring Gr.2 winner Maximus Mischief.
Into Mischief is also shaping up well with mares by CANDY RIDE, siring four BTWs from 29 foals.
Scat Daddy sired Gr.1 winners from SEATTLE SLEW line mares. Into Mischief also did well, siring Gr.1 winners from daughters of A.P. INDY, MAJESTIC WARRIOR and TAPIT, as well as with GSWs out of daughters of MALIBU MOON, MINESHAFT and BERNARDINI. TAPIT’s daughters produced 43% BTWs to Scat Daddy.
Scat Daddy’s son No Nay Never is excelling with mares descending from DANZIG, including HARD SPUN, so this should also work with Mendelssohn. Into Mischief sired the Gr.2 winner Gerrymander from a HARD SPUN mare. Mendelssohn’s Gr.3 winner Without Words has a dam by BOUNDARY.
Mendelssohn has already sired black-type horses from mares by MEDAGLIA D’ORO and his son VIOLENCE.
Both Scat Daddy and Mendelssohn have enjoyed success with GHOSTZAPPER mares, the former siring the great Justify and Mendelssohn siring 2024 Canadian Gr.3 winner Somethinabouter.
Scat Daddy’s exceptionally fast daughter Lady Aurelia is inbred 4x3 to STORM CAT. Mendelssohn already has a SW with a dam by GIANT’S CAUSEWAY.
UNCLE MO mares are worth trying as Into Mischief has Gr.1 and Gr.2 winners with dams by INDIAN CHARLIE.