An undefeated grade two winner at two, Maximus Mischief is not only one of the best juvenile colts by the sensational Into Mischief, but was also a grade one producing sire with his first crop in 2024.

Maximus Mischief has grade one winner Raging Torrent out of a mare by Violence, a son of Medaglia d’Oro, himself broodmare sire of two Into Mischief line graded stakes winners, and sire of Warrior’s Reward, the broodmare sire of Into Mischief line grade one winner Ways and Means. Medaglia d’Oro is by El Prado, which suggests other El Prado sons, such as Kitten’s Joyand Artie Schiller. Other representatives of Sadler’s Wells include Magician, Capo Blanco, Powerscourt, and Horse Chestnut. Sadler’s Wells is a three-quarters brother to Nureyev, and Into Mischief’s millionaire Vyjack is out of a mare by Stravinsky, a son of Nureyev. Other sources of Nureyev include Fasliyev, Spinning World, Theatrical, and Atticus.

Into Mischief has sired 11 stakes winners out of mares by Distorted Humor, including grade one winners Citizen Bull, Life is Good, and Practical Joke, and there are also stakes winners out of mares by Distorted Humor sons Flower Alley and Any Given Saturday. Distorted Humor is by Forty Niner, and out of mares by other stallions from that line he has Goldencents out of a mare by Banker’s Gold, graded winner Miss Sunset out of a mare by Trippi, and a stakes winner out a mare by Roar.

Into Mischief has been exceptional with the Gone West branch of Mr. Prospector. On that cross, Into Mischief has Horse of the Year Authentic out of a mare by Mr. Greeley; Grade one winners Mia Mischief and Mischievous Alex out of mares by Speightstown (sire of Munnings); graded winners out of mares by Grand Slam and his son, Limehouse; and stakes winners out of mares by Elusive Quality (an interesting cross here, and sire of Quality Road, himself broodmare sire of an Into Mischief graded stakes winner), and Proud Citizen.

Maximus Mischief is an example of the very successful cross of Into Mischief cross with mares from the Unbridled’s Song/Unbridled branch of the Fappiano line. It could be worth trying Maximus Mischief out of mares from other branches of Unbridled and Fappiano, or even mares by other sons of Unbridled’s Song, such as Arrogate, Liam’s Map, Cross Traffic, Dunkirk, Eurosilver, Even the Score, First Defence, Half Ours, Midshipman, Old Fashioned, Rockport Harbor, Songandaprayer, Noonmark, and Zensational. Looking at other sources of Unbridled, Into Mischief also has eight stakes winners, including Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun and Dubai World Cup winner Laurel River, out of mares by Unbridled son, Empire Maker (sire of Pioneerof the Nile – the broodmare sire of an Into Mischief stakes winner) and Bodemeister; grandsire of American Pharoah (broodmare sire of an Into Mischief stakes winner), Cairo Prince and Classic Empire. Unbridled might also be introduced through Broken Vow. From the Cryptoclearance branch of Fappiano, Into Mischief has graded winner Conquest Enforcer out of a mare by Victory Gallop, and three stakes winners, one graded, out of mares by Candy Ride. He also has grade one winner Doppelganger out of a mare by Quiet American (grandsire of Midnight Lute) also broodmare sire Maximus Mischief stakes winner Maximus Meridius.

From other branches of Mr. Prospector, Maximus Mischief has stakes winner Baby Max out of a mare by Lemon Drop Kid. Into Mischief has graded winner Golden Mischief out of a mare by Mr. Prospector son, Carson City, and graded winner Gas Station Sushi out of a mare by Carson City son Five Star Day, which also suggests daughters of City Zip. Into Mischief has already sired stakes winner Sittin at the Bar out of a mare by Mutakddim (by Seeking the Gold, also sire of Petionville and Cape Town). Overall, almost any strain of Mr. Prospector might prove positive here, but we can note that Into Mischief also has a graded winner out of a mare by Smart Strike (sire of Curlin, himself already broodmare sire of an Into Mischief Stakes graded stakes winner;  Lookin At Lucky, broodmare sire of Into Mischief grade one winner Timberlake; and English Channel), a graded winner out of a mare by Machiavellian (sire of Street Cry and grandsire of Street Sense and Street Boss), and a stakes winner out of a mare by Pulling Punches (by Two Punch, also sire of Smoke Glacken). Mr. Prospector is a Raise a Native line stallion, and from another branch of that line, Majestic Prince, there is Into Mischief graded winner Mighty Mischief out of a mare by Super Saver (sire of Runhappy), a son of Maria’s Mon.

Looking at the Northern Dancer line, the cross with Danzig line mares has an excellent strike-rate. This includes graded winner Can The Man out of a mare by Danzig himself, graded winner Instagrand out of a mare by Lawyer Ron (by Langfuhr), graded winner Ain’t Easy out of a mare by Fastnet Rock (from the Danehill branch of Danzig), graded winner Musical Mischief out of a mare by Bellamy Road, two stakes winners out of mares by Hard Spun, and stakes winners out of mares by Lil’s Lad and Polish Numbers. There are numerous other sources of Danzig that would appeal here, including Belong to Me (who looks particularly interesting), War Front, and Exchange Rate.  

Considering mares from the A.P. Indy line we can note Kentucky Oaks heroine Pretty Mischievous and graded stake winner Hoosier Philly out of mares by Tapit (sire of Constitution, Frosted, Tapizar, Tonalist, Cupid, and Trappe Shot), millionaire Owendale and graded winner Twenty Carat out of mares Bernardini (sire of Stay Thirsty and To Honor and Serve), as well as grade two winner Chess Chief out of a mare by Mineshaft (sire of Dialed In and Discreetly Mine) and graded winners out of a mares by Malibu Moon and Majestic Warrior, as well as stakes winners out of mares by Congrats (sibling to Flatter), Pulpit (sire of Tapit), Jump Start, and Aptitude.

From the Relaunch line, Maximus Mischief has multiple stakes winner Glengarry out of a mare by Tizway, a son of Tiznow. Into Mischief has a Champion Two-Year-Old Filly Wonder Wheel out of a mare by Tiz Wonderful, and a Grade one winner out of a mare Tiznow, who is also broodmare sire of multiple graded winner Mr. Money by a son of Into Mischief. Into Mischief graded winner Comical is out of a sister to Tiznow son, Colonel John (also broodmare sire of Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan by a son of Into Mischief), suggesting mares by Gemologist could also work. From this same Relaunch sire line Into Mischief also has a stakes winner out of a mare by Honour and Glory (sire of Put It Back).

Into Mischief’s spectacular daughter Gamine is out of a mare by Kafwain, and he also has graded winner One Liner out of a mare by that horse’s sire, Cherokee Run (by Runaway Groom, a son of Blushing Groom), and a stakes winner out of a mare by another son of that horse, Yonaguska. Into Mischief’s sire, Harlan’s Holiday, sired Champion Shanghai Bobby out of a mare by Orientate (by Blushing Groom son, Mt. Livermore, also sire of Housebuster and Peaks and Valleys), who is also broodmare sire of graded winner Wildman Jack by a son of Into Mischief. There is also a stakes winner by Into Mischief out of a mare by Blushing Groom son, Rahy.

Into Mischief has grade one winner Dayoutoftheoffice and multiple graded winner Frank’s Rockette out of mares by Indian Charlie, sire of Uncle Mo (himself sire of Nyquist, Laoban, and Outwork), Adios Charlie, Bwana Charlie, Liaison, and Cinco Charlie.

We can also note Maximus Mischief has stakes winners out of mares by St. Averil (by Saint Ballado, from the Halo line, also represented by More Than Ready and sons) and Proud Accolade (by Yes It’s True).