Mutasaabeq Finds Better Fit at Florida's Pleasant Acres

Graded stakes winner Mutasaabeq  , a 5-year-old son of four-time leading North American sire Into Mischief  , has arrived at Pleasant Acres Stallions near Ocala, Fla., where he'll enter stud this year at $6,500, the farm announced Feb. 20.

"Mutasaabeq is a perfect fit for Florida and for Florida breeders. Not only does he have an impressive pedigree on his sire and dam lines, he was also a talented racehorse with a tremendous turn of foot," said director of stallion services Christine Jones. "We are proud to have the only first-year Into Mischief sire in Florida for 2023."

The original plan for Mutasaabeq was to have him enter stud in Kentucky, but with 28 new stallions entering the Central Kentucky market this year, Florida began looking like a better spot to launch his career.

"First, he is the only graded stakes-winning son of Into Mischief standing in the state," said Jamie LaMonica with Stallion Co., who brokered the deal with Pleasant Acres. "Next, you have a horse with speed, precocity, and versatility, which are traits important to the Florida breeders and important traits in any successful stallion."

Bred by BlackRidge Stables in Kentucky, Mutasaabeq is out of the winning Scat Daddy daughter Downside Scenario , who is a half sister to multiple group 3 winner Cool Cowboy  (Kodiak Kowboy ) and to Catching Diamonds  (Into Mischief), the dam of 2022 Florida Derby (G1) winner White Abarrio . The immediate family also has deep black-type roots in Brazil, having produced group 1 winners and champion 2-year-old fillies Juno  and Love 'n' Happiness . Other top performers in the family include American grade 1 winner Fiesta Lady and multiple graded stakes winner Pee Wee Reese .

Shadwell Estate bought Mutasaabeq as a weanling at the 2018 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale for $425,000 out of the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Mutasaabeq won his racing debut at Saratoga Race Course by 4 1/2 lengths. In his next start, he was third in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) behind Jackie's Warrior   and Reinvestment Risk . Pletcher switched the colt to grass for his third start and was rewarded with a 2 1/4-length win in the Bourbon Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland. He contested the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T), but a wide trip throughout cost him ground, and he finished unplaced. Back to the dirt at 3, Mutasaabeq made his only start in 2021 a winning one by taking the listed Mucho Macho Man Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths. He was retired with a 3-0-1 record from six starts and earned $259,670.

Shadwell sold Mutasaabeq privately after his racing career. The stallion has not been syndicated, but a limited number of breeding rights will be offered, according to LaMonica. The deal with Pleasant Acres also was attractive because the farm, owned by Joe and Helen Barbazon, has committed a number of mares to Mutasaabeq's first book. LaMonica said opportunities for the stallion to shuttle to the Southern Hemisphere are being explored, but nothing has been finalized.

The young stallion's race record, especially at 2, sets him apart, according to Joe Barbazon.

"Mutasaabeq isn't just a son of Into Mischief, he is a grade 2 winner and a grade 1-placed son of the champion sire-of-sires Into Mischief. We are very happy to have him as part of our breeding program in Florida," he said.