Into Mischief colts dominate $1 million Florida Derby (G1)

Into Mischief’s Kentucky Derby (G1) hand got even stronger when the Spendthrift stallion’s Tappan Street and Sovereignty finished 1-2 in Saturday’s Florida Derby (G1).

Already the sire of Kentucky Derby winners Authentic and Mandaloun, Into Mischief also has Citizen Bull and Barnes as potential starters in this year’s Derby. Tappan Street is his sire’s 83^rd  lifetime graded stakes winner.

Tappan Street and Sovereignty both have 110 qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Challenge Series, tying them for third place on the list. The top 20 horses are guaranteed entry into the May 3^rd Run for the Roses.

Tappan Street, who was second in last month’s Holy Bull S. (G3), was the second choice in Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile race, behind Sovereignty, who won the Fountain of Youth S. (G2) on March 1.

The Into Mischief duo had the outside two posts in the 10-horse field. Tappan Street had the better break and was fourth through the first half-mile. As the field entered the far turn, Tappan Street began to cut into the lead, with Sovereignty following him while four-wide. Both colts came into the stretch full of run and Tappan Street stormed to the lead with a furlong to go and held off a hard-charging Sovereignty by 1 ¼-lengths.

“Everything went to plan,” said winning jockey Luis Saez. “He broke from there pretty well. He was in good position. The whole way I had a lot of horse. We knew the speed was inside and we followed the speed. Everything came out perfect. He was traveling professionally today. I saw [Sovereignty] and I let my horse go a little bit more, and he gave me a good turn of foot. When he came to the top of the stretch, I knew it was going to be tough to catch [us].”

Saturdays’ win was the first stakes score for Tappan Street, who is 2-1-0 in three starts and has earned $649,600 for owners WinStar Farm LLC, CHC Inc., and Cold Press Racing. Bred in Kentucky by Blue Heaven Farm, Tappan Street sold for $1 million at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling sale.