It was a lengthy review of the stretch run, but in the end the Stewards elevated heavy favorite Tommy Jo (Into Mischief) to her second top-level victory in the GI Darley Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland.
Percy's Bar (Upstart), who originally crossed the wire first, was placed second after the Stewards found she impeded Tommy Jo late in the stretch.
Tommy Jo was crowned a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' after a sensational debut at Saratoga July 26 when she went right to the front and never looked back, dominating by an effortless 3 3/4 lengths. It was a similarly devastating effort last out Aug. 30 in the GI Spinaway Stakes when she left her rivals in her wake by 6 1/2 lengths as Percy's Bar topped the minor awards.
Coming into the race, many surmised it might end up being these two on top once again, and so it happened–even if how we arrived at the final result was unexpected.
With the field breaking well, it was Percy's Bar along the rail who stepped up to lead through an opening quarter in :23.13, and a half in :46.90, but Tommy Jo never had that one far from her in second as they traveled well up the backstretch. Six furlongs were posted in 1:11.52., and Percy's Bar still had the advantage as they swung into the lane, but the race was on with the 2-5 betting choice breathing down her neck. They locked horns right up until Percy's Bar suddenly lugged out onto Tommy Jo in the final yards, who lost momentum as a result, but managed to hold the second spot across the wire as the longtime leader came in first.
After the race, there was a jockey's objection as well as an immediate Stewards' review, after which the change was made to the final placings. The new order was Tommy Jo, Percy's Bar, and then The Grumpy Rabbit (Not This Time), who was making up belated ground to claim third.
“(Disqualification) is not the way you want to win,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “I thought the filly was running a good race, and there was obviously a lot of contact that impacted her ability to finish. Whether or not it was the difference in her getting to the finish line first or not, I don't know. It was a significant bump.”
“I thought she got a little bit tired. I think she'll benefit from the two-turn experience, and that's part of what we were hoping for.”
Pletcher continued, “The filly that ultimately finished second [Percy's Bar] is a nice filly. She ran well against us in the Spinaway and has been impressive up to that. So hopefully this brings [Tommy Jo] forward a notch for the Breeders' Cup [Juvenile Fillies].”
Percy's Bar's trainer Ben Colebrook was disappointed with the disqualification, saying, “I thought if the [winning] margin had been a head or a neck, I could see it. I probably disagree with it [the disqualification], but I have to go back and watch [a replay of the race], cool our heads. It's disappointing.”
“We thought if we won, we would go to the Breeders' Cup,” Colebrook said. “I think we've got to. We'll not make any decisions now, but we'll talk about it with Gatewood [Bell] and the [ownership] group [Hat Creek Racing]. I think it will be in the cards for sure.”
The GI Darley Alcibiades is a 'WAYI' for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar Oct. 31 and the Spendthrift colorbearer now has a chance to become yet another noteworthy addition to the farm's legacy at the World Championships. It's an honor roll which includes the likes of Hall of Famer Beholder (Henny Hughes), who would win the Juvenile Fillies in 2012 before going on to a career which saw her cast a long shadow for generations to come in Breeders' Cup annuals as a three-time champion (she would win two editions of the Distaff in non-successive years). Another such name is GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Authentic (Into Mischief), who was raced in a partnership, and retired with career earnings over $6.8-million to Spendthrift to stand as a sire.
After an inquiry, Tommy Jo backs up her spot in the NetJets #BreedersCup Juvenile Fillies with victory in the #WinAndYoureIn Darley Alcibiades!
Jockey: John R. Velazquez
Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher
Owner: Spendthrift Farm LLC
Breeder: Spendthrift Farm, LLCpic.twitter.com/2UssDYXz1f— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) October 3, 2025
Pedigree Note:
Tommy Jo is the second to the races for multiple Grade I-placed Mother Mother, whose first was an unplaced full-brother to this victress named McKechnie. A 2024 foal–who would've been another full-sibling to the pair–died and she has no breeding reported for 2025. The mare, herself a half-sister to GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Commanding Curve (Master Command) and SP Hot Roots (Indian Charlie), went to Vekoma for 2026.
Into Mischief has made the world his throne for the last several years now, and in 2025 alone, commanded a daunting five individual Grade I winners–arguably chief among those being Godolphin's MGISW Sovereignty. The others being Patch Adams, Tappan Street, Ted Noffey (also owned by Spendthrift and entered in Saturday's GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland), and of course, Tommy Jo.
Friday, Keeneland
DARLEY ALCIBIADES S.-GI, $650,000, Keeneland, 10-3, 2yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:44.69, ft.
1–TOMMY JO, 122, f, 2, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Mother Mother (MSW & MGISP, $430,061), by Pioneerof the Nile
2nd Dam: Mother, by Lion Hearted
3rd Dam: Proper Lassie, by Topsider
'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' O/B-Spendthrift Farm, LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-John R. Velazquez. $397,963. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $617,963. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
*2–Percy's Bar, 122, f, 2, by Upstart
1st Dam: Honestly Deb, by Super Saver
2nd Dam: Deb's Charm, by Silver Charm
3rd Dam: Ms. Cuvee Napa, by Relaunch
($52,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' O-Hat Creek Racing; B-Brereton C. Jones (KY); T-Ben Colebrook. $128,375.
3–The Grumpy Rabbit, 122, f, 2, by Not This Time
1st Dam: Midtown Traffic, by Midnight Lute
2nd Dam: Stop Traffic, by Cure the Blues
3rd Dam: Save My Soul, by I'ma Hell Raiser
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($185,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). O-Edwin C. Anthony; B-Maegan Ford Nicholson & James Nicholson (KY); T-Kenneth McPeek. $64,188.
Margins: 2 3/4, 2 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 0.44, 3.46, 6.29.
Also Ran: Go to Girl, Wonzee Weather, Haute Diva.
*Disqualified from first and placed second. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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