Nelson Avenue blitzes foes in year-ending stakes blowout win

Into Mischief’s record-setting year as Leading General Sire ended fittingly on New Year’s Eve when he got yet another stakes winner with Nelson Avenue’s 11 ¼-length score in the Blitzen S. at Parx.

Into Mischief finished the year with 36 stakes winners and led the General Sire List in every category, including his record-setting $35,426,144 in progeny earnings. 2024 marked the sixth consecutive year that Into Mischief topped the list. Since 1900, only Bold Ruler has more consecutive years atop the list.

Six-year-old Nelson Avenue came into the seven-furlong Blitzen off a pair of graded stakes starts, including a second in the Forty Niner S. (G3) at Aqueduct in late October. He was off a beat slow, but quickly rushed up and took the lead in the first quarter-mile. From there, he increased his margin the rest of the trip, and was geared down late. His final time of 1:24.67 over a sloppy track garnered a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 101.

Currently owned by Photos Finish LLC, Nelson Avenue is 6-2-1 in 16 starts and has earned $298,805. He was bred in Kentucky by Godolphin and is from the same family as Grade 1 winner and sire Sky Mesa.