Malathaat, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2021 and likely champion older female of 2022, will be bred to Spendthrift Farm's perennial leading sire Into Mischief for her initial mating in 2023.
Spendthrift's Mark Toothaker confirmed the mating plans to FanDuel TV/TVG on Monday afternoon.
“You get some cool things that come across your desk from time to time – Malathaat coming to Into Mischief this year is a pretty cool deal,” Toothaker said. “He's come a long way on the mares he used to get and the mares he's getting today.”
Malathaat, a 5-year-old Curlin mare, retired following a thrilling blanket finish in the Breeders' Cup Distaff on Nov. 5 at Keeneland, capping off a season that also featured victories in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes and G1 Spinster Stakes, after kicking off the year with a score in the G3 Doubledogdare Stakes. She was recently named an Eclipse Award finalist for champion older female, and she is likely to take that honor home on Jan. 26.
Campaigning for Shadwell Stable with trainer Todd Pletcher, Malathaat retired with 10 wins in 14 starts for earnings of $3,790,825.
She went unbeaten as a juvenile, including victories in the listed Tempted Stakes and the G2 Demoiselle Stakes. Malathaat then continued her undefeated march toward the 2021 Kentucky Oaks with a victory in the G1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland before emerging victorious after a prolonged stretch duel with Search Results in the Oaks. Her championship campaign continued with a win in the G1 Alabama Stakes and a third in that year's Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar.
Bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, Malathaat is out of the Grade 1-winning A.P. Indy mare Dreaming of Julia. She was a $1.05-million purchase at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Into Mischief stands at Spendthrift Farm for an advertised fee of $250,000 – North America's highest public fee.
The 18-year-old son of Harlan's Holiday recently completed his fourth consecutive season as leading general sire by earnings, posting a North American record $28,104,353. It was the third straight year in which Into Mischief's year-end progeny earnings set a new record for the continent.
He was also North America's leading sire by starters (473), winners (235), stakes winners (27), and graded stakes winners (17).
In the commercial arena, Into Mischief was North America's leading sire of 2-year-olds in training in 2022, along with being the top covering sire of broodmares.
Into Mischief's runners were led by multiple Grade 1 winner Life Is Good, who is an Eclipse finalist for champion older male on the strength of Grade 1 victories in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes, Whitney Stakes, and Woodward Stakes. He will also have the likely Eclipse champion 2-year-old female in Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Wonder Wheel.
Into Mischief is responsible for three Eclipse Award winners, and six Breeders' Cup winners, both led by 2020 Horse of the Year Authentic, who won that year's Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic. A year later, Mandaloun gave Into Mischief his second Kentucky Derby winner following the disqualification of Medina Spirit.
MALATHAAT is being bred to leading sire INTO MISCHIEF this year
.@Gabby_Gaudet_ talks to @marktoothaker of @spendthriftfarm about INTO MISCHIEF, BOLT D'ORO, & more at this week's @keenelandsales #HorsesOfAllAges Sale on @fandueltv!
pic.twitter.com/GZoVwT6nHo
— TVG (@TVG) January 9, 2023
The post Champion Malathaat To Visit Into Mischief For First Mating In 2023 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
