Mendelssohn Retires to Coolmore America
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Mendelssohn trains at Saratoga Race Course prior to his start in the Travers Stakes
Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier, and Derrick Smith's grade 1 winner Mendelssohn has been retired from racing and will stand at Coolmore America's Ashford Stud in 2019.
A $3 million Keeneland September Yearling Sale topper in 2016 by M.V. Magnier, Mendelssohn joined the barn of trainer Aidan O'Brien in Europe, where he kicked off his freshman campaign. Shipped back to the United States at 2, the son of the late Scat Daddy notched an impressive win the 2017 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T).
Mendelssohn followed his Breeders' Cup performance with another win at the start of his sophomore campaign in the 32red Patton Stakes at Dundalk before shipping to Dubai, where he dominated in the UAE Derby Sponsored By Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (G2) by 18 1/2 lengths and set a track record.
"All of our team loved Mendelssohn from the first time we saw him as a yearling, and he has developed into a magnificent-looking horse," said Coolmore America manager Dermot Ryan.
Bred in Kentucky by Clarkland Farm, Mendelssohn is the 11th foal out of the Tricky Creek mare Leslie's Lady, who was named Broodmare of the Year in 2016. He is a half brother to grade 1 winner and sire Into Mischief and four-time champion Beholder.
"Being by our own Scat Daddy and a half brother to Into Mischief and Beholder, you couldn't ask for a better pedigree, and he showed real brilliance when winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar and the UAE Derby," Ryan said. "He also ran some excellent races in defeat this fall, notably in the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) and the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1). We have already had a huge number of inquiries about him, and I have no doubt that he will prove extremely popular."
Mendelssohn will stand for a fee of $35,000 for the 2019 breeding season.