McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds announced Jan. 19 on the social media platform X the first reported foal by its grade 1-placed, stakes-winning sire Provocateur .
The bay filly born Jan. 19 was bred in New York by McMahon of Saratoga out of Cassidy's Reward, a winning daughter of Warrior's Reward. Cassidy's Reward is half sister to stakes winner and stakes producer Shine Upon (Congaree) and to grade 1-placed winner Keep the Peace (Touch Gold).
Bred by Kingswood Farm and David Egan, Provocateur was a highly regarded yearling during the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale where the son of Into Mischief sold for $600,000 to Spendthrift Farm and MyRacehorse. Provocateur got his first win at 2 with trainer Todd Pletcher at Tampa Bay Downs, winning by 4 1/2 lengths. At 3, he won the 2022 Hutcheson Stakes before running third in the Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park behind Jack Christopher and Pappacap . He would capture another stakes in his next start when he won the Jersey Shore Stakes at Monmouth Park.
Provocateur is out of the winning Cherokee Run daughter Cayala, making him a full brother to grade 3 winner One Liner and a half brother to grade 2 winner Rodriguez, who is by Into Mischief's son Authentic . He was offered as a racing prospect during the 2022 Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age Sale where McMahon & Hill Bloodstock bought him for $200,000 from ELiTE.
Provocateur bred 44 mares last year and stands for $5,000.
