New York-Bred Filly is Provocateur's First Foal

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.