With an especially talented group of eight runners pre-entered in this year's Breeders' Cup, six-time leading sire Into Mischief is well-positioned to add to his considerable success in the World Championships.
The 20-year-old son of Harlan's Holiday—Leslie's Lady, by Tricky Creek, who will stand the 2026 season for $250,000 at Spendthrift Farm near Lexington, already has enjoyed plenty of Breeders' Cup success. He enters this year's World Championships as one of four sires tied with the most wins to date, at eight.
Into Mischief is joined in that most wins category by Curlin , Dubawi, and the late More Than Ready.
Leading the way for Into Mischief's especially accomplished group of eight runners pre-entered in the Breeders' Cup this year is Godolphin homebred Sovereignty. After capturing this year's Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont Stakes (G1), and Travers Stakes (G1), Sovereignty figures to be the favorite or one of the favorites for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).
Beyond that, Into Mischief boasts a pair of two-time grade 1 winners pre-entered in each of the Breeders' Cup dirt races for 2-year-olds in Ted Noffey in the Juvenile (G1) and Tommy Jo in the Juvenile Fillies (G1).
Also representing Into Mischief this year are last year's Juvenile winner Citizen Bull in the Dirt Mile (G1), two-time grade 2 winner Imagination, and group 3-placed American Stage in the Sprint (G1), as well as Troy Stakes (G2) winner Bring Theband Home in the Turf Sprint (G1T). Also pre-entered in the Classic is Contrary Thinking, who appears to be a "rabbit" entered by trainer Chad Brown in an effort to increase the race's early pace.
While Into Mischief's eight runners might make him the favorite to grab sole possession of the leading sire by Breeders' Cup winners, Dubawi and Curlin also are well-positioned to add to their Breeders' Cup win totals.
Curlin's hopes will be riding on Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Journalism in the Classic, undefeated stakes-winning filly Ultimate Love in the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T), and 5-year-old grade 2 winner Zeitlos in the Filly and Mare Sprint (G1). At 3, Curlin followed his Preakness score with a win in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Dubawi figures to have the favorite in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T), where Rebel's Romance will try to secure his third victory in that race. He'll also have recent Canadian International Stakes (G1T) winner Silawi pre-entered in that event. Dubawi will have one of the favorites in the Mile (G1T) as well with Notable Speech, who will enter off a victory in the Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1T).
Beyond the wins category, all three of these sires will have a chance to move to the top of the Breeders' Cup earnings list.
They're all taking aim at Galileo's mark of $16,426,287. Curlin ranks second in the earnings category at $14,190,000, with Dubawi in third at $12,930,000. While Into Mischief is further back on that list, ranking sixth at $10,760,000, his deep group of eight starters gives him a puncher's chance at the top spot.
