Into Mischief rules over Saratoga Sale with $4.1 & $3 million colts

On a Tuesday night with endless fireworks in the Saratoga sales ring, no sire shone brighter than Into Mischief, with four of his yearlings bringing seven figures, led by the sales-topping $4.1 million colt sold by Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa, agent for the Don Alberto Corporation.

After two days of a record-setting sale, Into Mischief had nine lots sell for an incredible average of $1,561,111.

When the sale topper, hip No. 218, came into the ring, the bidding frenzy began immediately, quickly eclipsing the seven-figure mark and not stopping until Coolmore and Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm emerged as the winning bidders.

“It’s a surreal feeling that [Coolmore, Brant] would step up to get this colt,” said Don Alberto’s Reed Ringler. “I cannot tell you how gratified I am of everyone on our farm who has poured their guts out into these horses and for them to come up here and showcase themselves like this.”

The bay colt’s dam Stellar Sound placed in a trio of graded stakes and is a half-sister to stakes winner Smart As Me. The colt is her first foal.

Earlier in the session, hip No. 178, consigned by Gainesway, agent for Stonestreet Bred for Brilliance, realized a winning bid of $3 million from Resolute Bloodstock.

The Kentucky-bred is the second foal out of stakes winner Lady Kate, who is out of Grade 2 winner Princess Haya.

The third of Into Mischief’s quarter-million-plus lots on Tuesday was hip No. 163, purchased by Spendthrift Farm and consigned by Warrendale Sales, agent for Spendthrift and Grayson Farm.

“He was a colt that we raised and we obviously know a lot about him,” Spendthrift general Manager Ned Toffey said of the yearling. “We thought he was as pretty as any colt in the sale and so we are really happy to have him.”

The bay colt is out of three-time Grade 1 winner I’m A Chatterbox, who is also the dam of graded stakes-placed Juniper’s Moon.