Spendthrift Farm Announces Five New Stallions for 2020

B. Wayne Hughes' Spendthrift Farm announced five new stallions Sept. 12 for the 2020 breeding season, including Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) contender Vino Rosso, last year's undefeated 2-year-old Maximus Mischief, and five-time graded stakes winner Coal Front. 

Spendthrift previously announced it will stand top sprinter Mitole and Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Omaha Beach. 

"There is obviously a tremendous amount of history here at Spendthrift, and it's long been a goal of Mr. Hughes to return this great farm to its better days as a premier stallion operation. We believe we are doing that," Spendthrift general manager Ned Toffey said. "Currently, we are the only North American farm standing three stallions that have multiple grade 1 winners in 2019, with Malibu Moon , Temple City , and, of course, Into Mischief , who is the No. 1 general sire in the land.

"The addition of these five new horses will greatly complement our stallion roster and is representative of our commitment. It is the finest group we've had the privilege to bring in and the best this storied farm has seen in decades. There is quality and diversity for every breeder. We're extremely excited about all five horses and the future of Spendthrift." 

Spendthrift acquired the breeding rights to Vino Rosso, a grade 1-winning son of Curlin , from owners Mike Repole of Repole Stable and Vinnie Viola of St. Elias Stable, who purchased the colt for $410,000 from Glennwood Farm's consignment to the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Winner of this year's Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes (G1), Vino Rosso is being pointed to the Breeders' Cup Classic before he's set to retire to stud.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, the millionaire won on debut at Aqueduct Racetrack as a 2-year-old before returning to win the Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G2) at 3. This year, Vino Rosso captured the Stymie Stakes at Aqueduct in his 4-year-old debut before shipping to California to win the Gold Cup at Santa Anita over grade 1 winner Gift Box. 

Bred in Kentucky by John Gunther, Vino Rosso has earned $1,353,125 from five wins in 13 starts to date. He is out of the Street Cry mare Mythical Bride, a half sister to grade 1 performers Laugh Track, Intrepid Heart, and Commissioner , a freshman sire.

Vino Rosso's fee will be announced at a later date.

Maximus Mischief has been retired to Spendthrift and will be immediately available for inspection upon appointment. One of the early winter book favorites for the 2019 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), the son of Into Mischief was undefeated in three starts as a 2-year-old by a combined 17 lengths, including a decisive victory over Tax in the Remsen Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct.

Bred in Kentucky by Martha Jane Mulholland and campaigned by owners Cash is King and LC Racing, the precocious colt earned Beyers of 94, 98, and 97 in his three performances at 2, making him one of the fastest juveniles of his crop and one of the fastest ever by his champion juvenile sire.

Maximus Mischief was a $340,000 2-year-old purchase out of Cary Frommer's consignment to the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. He is out of the Songandaprayer mare Reina Maria, a half sister to the grade 1-winning juvenile Secret Compass. His 2020 fee has been set at $7,500.

Spendthrift also acquired the breeding rights to millionaire Coal Front from his owners, Robert LaPenta and Head of Plains Partners. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Coal Front is being pointed to the Sept. 21 Kelso Handicap (G2) at Belmont Park with the potential of running in the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and Cigar Mile Handicap Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) prior to retiring to stud.

With earnings of $1,725,280 to date, Coal Front has won graded stakes at five distances, from six furlongs to 1 1/16 miles on dirt. After a dominant maiden win on debut at Keeneland and an allowance win over eventual grade 1 winner Patternrecognition at Belmont in his second start, the dark bay or brown ridgling remained undefeated with a victory in the 6 1/2-furlong Amsterdam Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course, earning a 104 Beyer. He closed his 3-year-old season with a win in the six-furlong Gallant Bob Stakes (G3) at Parx Racing, earning a 107 Beyer—one of the fastest of the year by a sophomore.

Coal Front won the seven-furlong Mr. Prospector Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park as a 4-year-old and carried his top form into 2019, winning the 1 1/16-mile Razorback Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park and $1.5 million Godolphin Mile Sponsored by Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City-District One (G2) at Meydan.

A $575,000 2-year-old purchase from Kirkwood Stables' consignment to the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, Coal Front has won seven of 11 starts. The son of Stay Thirsty  is out of the unraced Mineshaft  mare Miner's Secret, with Kingmambo and Seattle Slew as his second and third broodmare sires, respectively, and is from the female family of grade 1 winner and sire Twilight Agenda. His fee will also be announced at a later date.

Omaha Beach and Mitole are also in training and gearing up for significant fall campaigns, including the Breeders' Cup, prior to retiring to Spendthrift.