Spendthrift acquires interest in Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) contender Mr. Money

B. Wayne Hughes’ Spendthrift Farm has acquired an ownership interest in four-time graded stakes-winning millionaire Mr. Money, who will make his next start in Saturday’s $1,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Santa Anita.

Campaigned by Chester Thomas’ Allied Racing Stable and trainer Bret Calhoun, the 3-year-old colt is the leading earner from the first crop of Spendthrift stallion Goldencents, who himself was a two-time winner of the Dirt Mile.

“We are very excited to partner with Chester Thomas and his entire team on Mr. Money, who we believe to be one of the most talented colts of this year’s 3-year-old crop, with the potential of becoming a leading handicap horse in 2020,” said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift general manager. “Obviously, we believe in the sire line and know it very well. Mr. Money is a fantastic physical representation of Goldencents and Into Mischief, and he has that tremendous desire to compete, which we’ve come to know from this sire line. We think it’s only a matter of time before he gets his Grade One.”

An earner of $1,277,220 to date, Mr. Money reeled off four straight wins by open lengths in graded stakes company in 2019. On Kentucky Derby day, he scored a runaway victory in the Pat Day Mile (G3), drawing away from next-out Grade One winner Hog Creek Hustle by 5 ¼ lengths. Mr. Money returned to Churchill a month later to win the Matt Winn (G3) by 6 ½ lengths.

In his next two starts, Mr. Money captured a pair of derbies, first in the Indiana Derby (G3) at Indiana Grand where he defeated eventual Grade One winner Math Wizard among others by 2 ½ lengths, earning a career-high 100 Beyer. He then romped by six lengths in the West Virginia Derby (G3) at Mountaineer three weeks later.

Last time out, Mr. Money was runner-up by a neck after leading throughout in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1), finishing ahead of Preakness (G1) winner War of Will and Grade One winner Improbable.

Saturday at Churchill, he breezed a half mile in 49 4/5 seconds in his final piece of major work for this week’s Dirt Mile. Mr. Money is scheduled to fly to Santa Anita on Tuesday. Long-term plans call for the colt to remain in training for a 4-year-old campaign in 2020.

“We are excited to bring in Spendthrift as a partner on Mr. Money,” said Thomas, who will remain the majority, managing owner on the colt. “Mr. Hughes and his team have a proven track record and we are thrilled to be in the Breeders’ Cup and have them with us.”

“Mr. Money has gotten better and better as the year’s gone on and continues to breeze sensationally. He’s coming into the Breeders’ Cup in top form,” said Calhoun. “We are really excited to see him face some of the top older horses in the country, and, hopefully, there’s a little extra luck on our side with his dad Goldencents being a two-time Dirt Mile winner at Santa Anita. We also have quite a bit of excitement about racing him as a 4-year-old and think he can be one of the top older horses in the country next year.”

Bred by Spruce Lane Farm, Mr. Money is out of the Tiznow mare Plenty O’Toole and hails from the immediate family of multiple Grade One winner Well Armed and Grade Three winner Witty. He owns a record of five wins and three seconds from 11 career starts to date.