Mandaloun wins drama-filled Haskell Inv. (G1)

Into Mischief’s Mandaloun became his sire’s latest Grade 1 winner in Saturday’s $1 million Haskell Inv. (G1) following a electrifying stretch battle with Hot Rod Charlie.

Though the pair of 3-year-old staged an historic battle, it was an incident in mid-stretch that determined the final outcome. With a furlong to run, Mandaloun was along the fence and Hot Rod Charlie three-wide, with Midnight Bourbon between them. Hot Rod Charlie drifted inward and caused Midnight Bourbon to clip heels and unseat Paco Lopez.

Hot Rod Charlie and Mandaloun were nose to nose the rest of the way, with Mandaloun losing a head bob, but the steward disqualified Hot Rod Charlie to last for interference, elevating Mandaloun to his second career graded stakes win.

Spendthrift Farm’s Following Sea, who had to alter course severely because of the incident was placed second in what was the colt’s stakes debut.

The win was the fifth in eight starts and first grade 1 win for Mandaloun, who has earned $1,651,252 and is racing’s newest millionaire.

“We just want to march forward with this colt. He’s a good horse,” said Brad Cox, who trains Mandaloun. “We’re proud of his performance today. He ran huge.”

A Juddmonte Farms homebred, Mandaloun is out of the Empire Maker mare Brooch, who has a 2-year-old and a yearling, both also by Into Mischief.

Into Mischief is on the cusp of surpassing the $100 million mark in progeny earnings. Mandaloun’s big payday upped his total to $99.5 million. Remarkably, Into Mischief is also nearing the 100 total black type winners, currently with 98.

As part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” program, Mandaloun also earned a free entry into the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) this November at Del Mar.