Tommy Jo becomes 26th lifetime Grade 1 winner for Into Mischief
August 30, 2025
Tommy Jo kicked off the Labor Day weekend with a stellar effort in the Aug. 30 Spinaway S. (G1) at Saratoga, cruising to a 6 ½-length win in the $300,000 race for 2-year-old fillies.
The Spinaway is a ‘Win and You’re In’ race for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Del Mar in November, earning Tommy Jo a fees-paid entry to the year-end championship.
A homebred for Spendthrift Farm, Tommy Jo broke her maiden at first asking on July 26 at Saratoga and earned a TDN ‘Rising Star’ tag. In Saturday’s seven-furlong race, Tommy Jo got away well and settled in third a couple of lengths off a pair of dueling pacesetters. Midway on the turn, Tommy Jo swiftly closed in on the leaders and swept by them just before turning for home. She powered away from the field from there to stop the timer in 1:23.39 on a fast track.
Spendthrift owner and president Eric Gustavson, who was on hand to witness his filly’s win, said, “We had high expectations based off her maiden win. We are just so thankful. We’d like to give all glory to God first. She didn’t disappoint, we are so excited about her. She ran great and is a homebred, which is extra exciting for us, that she was raised on the farm and every division on the farm had a hand in getting her here. It was a big team win and we preach a ‘we, not me’ mentality at the farm first, so that’s a big deal for us. And she is named after our only granddaughter as well, so that is like the cherry on top of it all. Her name is Tommy Jo Gustavson.”
Tommy Jo has earned $220,000 in her two wins and is likely to have one more prep race prior to the Breeders’ Cup.
“I would think the [GI Darley] Alcibiades could make sense, a two-turn race as a possible prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, so we’ll let the dust settle, but that is the most likely scenario,” said trainer Todd Pletcher.
Tommy Jo is Into Mischief’s fourth Grade 1 winner of the year, joining certain 3-year-old champion Sovereignty, Patch Adams, who won the Allen Jerkens (G1) one week ago, and Florida Derby (G1) winner Tappan Street.