First-crop sires: Maximus Mischief ends 2023 in second place

TwinSpires.com is following prominent first-crop sires whose two-year-olds hit the track in 2023. This installment is the seventh and final on 2018 Remsen (G2) winner Maximus Mischief.

The final racing results from 2023 are in, and Maximus Mischief ended the year as the second-leading first-crop sire in multiple categories.

According to data compiled by Bloodhorse.com, Maximus Mischief finished the year ranked second by progeny earnings, with his total of $2,266,229 trailing only Mitole’s $2,624,858. The five first-crop sires TwinSpires covered in 2023 (Mitole, Maximus Mischief, Vino Rosso, Omaha Beach, and Flameaway) ended the year ranked 1-2-3-4-5.

Maximus Mischief also finished second by number of individual winners sired (30, trailing Mitole’s 35) and in a tie for second by number of black-type stakes winners sired (three, trailing Flameaway’s four).

Let’s recap how Maximus Mischief closed out the final two weeks of 2023:

Carmelina nabs another stakes

The stakes-winning progeny of Maximus Mischief were quite productive in 2023. His three black-type winners (Carmelina, Glengarry, and Let Them Watch) all managed to win multiple stakes.

Carmelina is one of Maximus Mischief’s most promising runners. The well-traveled filly won the Shamrock Rose S. at Penn National and the non-black-type Keswick S. at Colonial Downs before taking her talents to Laurel Park for the Gin Talking S. on New Year’s Eve.

Starting as the second choice in a six-horse field, Carmelina exceeded expectations. The Pennslvania-bred filly dashed to the lead through fractions of :23.12 and :46.15 before edging away in the drive to prevail by two lengths in 1:24.83. She ended her season with a 6-4-0-0 record and earnings of $221,800, contributing nearly 10% of Maximus Mischief’s year-end total.

Miss Sayely drops in class, wins an allowance

After finishing third in the Juvenile Fillies Sprint S. at Gulfstream Park, Miss Sayely appreciated dropping in class for a seven-furlong allowance last Friday. Favored at 19-10 to beat half a dozen rivals, the bay filly settled in midfield through fractions of :23.13 and :46.81 over a muddy track, then took command as the pace decelerated to draw off and dominate by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:25.74.

Both the Juvenile Fillies Sprint and Friday’s allowance were restricted to horses bred in Florida. Miss Sayely appears to have found her comfort zone competing against Florida-bred company, though it will be interesting to see if she steps up against non-state-restricted competition in 2024.

Kelly’s Kidz, Maximus Meridius place in allowance optional claimer

On Dec. 26 at Parx Racing, two sons of Maximus Mischief managed to place in the same $75,000 allowance optional claimer.

Maximus Meridius, a debut winner against maiden special weight company at Parx, started as the 9-10 favorite. The more experienced Kelly’s Kidz, coming off a sixth-place finish in the Pennsylvania Nursery S., was a 9-1 longshot.

Unfortunately, Kelly’s Kidz got caught up dueling for the lead through quick fractions of :22.33 and :46.32, and one of his pace rivals was Maximus Meridius. The two grew leg-weary down the homestretch, allowing Frankie’s Empire to rally from last place and prevail by three-quarters of a length, but Kelly’s Kidz gamely held on for second place by 1 1/4 lengths over Maximus Meridius. The winning time was 1:19.85.

Maximus Magic starts 2024 on a winning note

We can’t wrap up our final installment on Maximus Mischief without mentioning Maximus Magic. After hitting the board without winning in all three of his 2023 starts against maiden special weight and maiden optional claiming company, Maximus Magic dropped in class for a $50,000 maiden claimer on New Year’s Day at Oaklawn Park and promptly obliterated his competition.

Indeed, Maximus Magic was tons the best, vying for command through fractions of :23.84, :47.99, and 1:12.57 before powering clear to win by 10 lengths in 1:38.73. It appears the Oaklawn dirt is a better fit for Maximus Magic than Woodbine’s synthetic Tapeta track.

Maximus Magic’s breakthrough victory didn’t contribute to his sire’s 2023 totals, but what better way for Maximus Mischief to celebrate 2024 than with a blowout maiden winner? It’s a solid start for Maximus Mischief’s hopes of ranking among the leading second-crop sires of 2024.