Heavyweight Sire Battle Could Go Down to Last Round

Heavyweight Into Mischief , the seven-time defending leading sire in North America, came into the Breeders' Cup Oct. 30-31 at Keeneland in need of some big blows to keep Not This Time  from taking his crown. 

As he—and his offspring—have done so many times, they delivered on the biggest stage. Round 10 of 12 in this battle of heavyweights went decisively in favor of Into Mischief. This contest now figures to go the distance as Into Mischief is just $111,397 behind Not This Time Nov. 2.

Into Mischief made it a fight, thanks in large part to Sovereignty  winning the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and Hughes winning the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), and the battle for top sire is far from over. And with that, Into Mischief will try to complete this late rally to top the general sires list an eighth consecutive year.

What was a $4.4 million advantage for Not This Time two weeks ago is down to $111,397 as of Tuesday. The gap was much closer, but Unrivaled Time won the Nov. 1 Twilight Derby (G2T) to help keep his sire in the lead.

This could go down as one of the closest battles, based on progeny earnings, this century.

Among those:

• 2001: Thunder Gulch edged Rahy by $130,323
• 2010: Giant's Causeway bettered Distorted Humor by $114,042
• 2012: Giant's Causeway topped Empire Maker by $111,752
• 2013: Kitten's Joy defeated Speightstown by $73,029

It would not be a surprise if this year's battle winds up in the same ballpark as these. Also, Into Mischief's offspring are less than $80,000 away from giving their sire $30 million in progeny earnings for 2026. Assuming that milestone is reached, this will be the first year that two sires surpassed the $30 million benchmark.

With less than two months remaining on the calendar, there are a few days that should be circled as potential turning points. First is Nov. 27 when the $700,000 Clark Stakes (G2) heads a lucrative card at Churchill Downs.

On Nov. 28 there are 11 stakes, headlined by the Jockey Club Derby (G2T), Jockey Club Oaks (G3T), and the Man 'o War Stakes (G2T), all at Belmont Park with $500,000 purses. Meanwhile, Churchill Downs hosts the $400,000 Golden Rod Stakes (G2) and Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2), also at $400,000. Not to be left out, Del Mar hosts the $300,000 Hollywood Derby (G1T). Woodbine contributes with two $300,000 stakes—the Coronation Futurity and the Princess Elizabeth Stakes. 

A week later, Belmont hosts the $500,000 Cigar Mile Handicap (G2), which heads a card that includes five graded stakes all at $250,000 or more. And Dec. 26 brings a plethora of six-figure-purse races, including nine graded stakes. 

Elsewhere in the rankings of North America's top sires, the late Medaglia d'Oro climbed six places to No. 19 thanks to his dynamic daughter Nitrogen, winner of the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). The 4-year-old filly is expected to return to racing next year, according to her owner/breeder D. J. Stable.

Another big mover coming out of the Breeders' Cup is Volatile , who was not ranked two weeks ago. Thanks to T O Elvis's star turn in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), Volatile is now ranked No. 21.

Now that the Breeders' Cup has come and gone, the only thing that has been decided is that we need more time to determine one of the greatest sire battles of all time.