Into Mischief on the cusp of Breeders’ Cup history
October 26, 2026
Into Mischief, who is tied with Dubawi (IRE) as the leading sire of Breeders’ Cup winners with nine, has a stellar trio of starters in this year’s championships Oct. 30-31 at Keeneland.
Into Mischief’s Breeders’ Cup runners have earned $12,550,000, fifth-most all time.
The headliner is of course Sovereignty in the Classic (G1) on Saturday, but the undefeated 2-year-old Hughes is a star in the making in Friday’s Juvenile (G1). The world traveler American Stage rounds out the trio for his sire in Saturday’s Sprint (G1).
Sovereignty dominated the 3-year-old division last year, winning the Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont S. (G1) and Travers S. (G1) on his way to an Eclipse Award. This year he has started three times, most recently winning the Whitney H. (G1) by five lengths and earning a 112 Beyer Speed Figure. Owned and bred by Godolphin, Sovereignty has earned over $6.8 million. He drew post 2 in the field of eight and will be ridden by regular rider Junior Alvarado.
In the Juvenile, the Bob Baffert-trained Hughes will likely be the favorite after scoring four wins by a combined 24 ½-lengths, including Grade 1 wins in the Del Mar Futurity and American Pharoah. Hughes will be ridden by Flavien Prat and is in post 5 in the field of eight. The son of Into Mischief is owned by Front Row Club, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Bashor Racing, Albaugh Family Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan. Hughes was bred in Kentucky by Breffni Farm.
American Stage, in post 6 in the 13-horse field that will travel six furlongs, is based in Japan for owner Yoshizawa Holdings Co. Ltd. The 4-year-old colt has started in six countries and on three continents. He was a close fourth in the 2025 renewal of the Sprint, his only U. S. start. American Stage, who will be ridden by Oisin Murphy, was bred in Kentucky by Spendthrift Farm.
Both Friday and Saturday’s races can be seen across a wide variety of online platforms, as well as on the NBC-TV family of networks.