Pedigree

Into Mischief's sire and dam were completely different types of racehorses, and that complementary union may offer him the best of both worlds. Into Mischief is from the first crop of multiple Grade 1 hero Harlan's Holiday, a grandson of the mighty Storm Cat who has gotten off to a terrific start at stud with his 2007 juveniles. An earner of more than $3.6 million in the course of his career, Harlan's Holiday was a major player on the 2002 Kentucky Derby trail. After capturing the Florida Derby (G1) and Blue Grass S. (G1) in impressive rallying fashion, he was sent off as the 6-1 favorite in the Run for the Roses, but failed to put his best foot forward and wound up seventh. At four, Harlan's Holiday added the 1 1/8-mile Donn H. (G1) to his trophy collection and finished second in two premier 1 1/4-mile contests, the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) and the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1). With these credentials, it would be no surprise if Harlan's Holiday sires horses who can stay the classic distance.

In contrast, Into Mischief's dam, Leslie's Lady, was a speedy type who never won past six furlongs. As a juvenile, she wired the field by six lengths in the Hoosier Debutante S. at that distance. Leslie's Lady is by Tricky Creek, a well-bred individual who did not sire any top-class performers. Even though he landed three graded stakes at 1 1/8 miles, Tricky Creek tends to serve as a speed influence, with his progeny's Average Winning Distance being 6.6 furlongs.

The maternal side of Leslie's Lady's pedigree, however, is laced with stamina. Her dam is by Stop the Music, who sired champion Temperence Hill, winner of the 1 1/2-mile Belmont S. (G1) in 1980, and has more recently appeared as the broodmare sire of 2005 Derby shocker Giacomo. Moreover, the next two dams are by Canadian champion grass horse One for All and European superstar *Sea-Bird, respectively, injecting a healthy dose of stamina further back. This female line struck a rich vein of success in the 1980s and early 1990s, with such representatives as Pleasant Stage, the champion juvenile filly of 1991, and Grade 1 winners Roanoke, Class Play, A Phenomenon, Pillaster and Seattle Meteor. Under the influence of Harlan's Holiday, the family's latent staying power could well be brought back to the surface and enable Into Mischief to navigate 1 1/4 miles.