Into Mischief’s Mutasaabeq bounces back in Mucho Macho Man S.

Mutasaabeq’s win in Saturday’s $100,000 Mucho Macho Man S. at Gulfstream Park gave Into Mischief his first of two stakes winners on the day, along with Life Is Good, who won the Sham S. (G3) at Santa Anita Park.

Mutasaabeq, winner of last year’s Bourbon S. (G2) on the Keeneland turf, is now a stakes winner on both dirt and grass and is 3-0-1 in five starts and has earned $259,120 for Shadwell Stable.

Breaking faster than he had in his previous starts, Mutasaabeq pressed pacesetter Awesome Gerry through a half-mile in :46.15. The two were on even terms at the quarter pole, but Mutasaabeq soon pulled clear and held off Papetu to win by 1 ½-lengths in 1:35.98 for the one-turn mile on a fast track.

“I thought he ran great. We wanted to make sure he got away from the gate cleanly – that hasn’t always been his best first step. I thought he broke pretty well today and put himself in a good spot,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “(Jockey) Luis (Saez) had to get after him a little bit on the turn and kept responding and finding more. I thought it was a big effort.”

“We’ll look to try another (race) on dirt. I’ll talk to the team at Shadwell and come up with a plan,” Pletcher continued. “I think today he showed his versatility. He’s now a stakes winner on both surfaces. It’s exciting to have one like that.”

Bred in Kentucky by BlackRidge Stables, the bay colt sold for $425,000 to his owner at the 2018 Keeneland November sale. Mutasaabeq is out of Downside Scenario, a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Cool Cowboy.