By Steve Sherack
The 3-year-old sprint division just keeps getting better.
Deep Flame (c, 3, Into Mischief–Barbadia, by Speightstown) looks like another major player in the stacked division following a head-turning, seven-length maiden victory over older horses at third asking at Churchill Downs May 17. The Juddmonte homebred sat a press-and-pounce trip beneath Irad Ortiz, Jr. and stopped the timer for six furlongs in a sharp 1:08.96. He earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure.
He was previously a well-beaten second behind next-out Lafayette S. winner Trouble Calling (Dialed In) on debut for Brad Cox at Fair Grounds Feb. 14, then followed with a fantastic second behind 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Gilded Bandit (Charlatan) as the favorite going 6 1/2 furlongs at Keeneland Apr. 4. Gilded Bandit backed up that performance with another promising win in an optional claimer around one turn on Kentucky Derby Day.
“Nothing lined up yet (for his next start),” Juddmonte USA General Manager Garrett O'Rourke said. “I think we're just relieved now to get that under his belt. I know Brad has a high opinion of him. Second time out, Brad didn't think he'd be beaten and was a bit disappointed when he was. Obviously, Gilded Bandit went on on Derby Day and Bill (Mott) regards him very highly as well.”
O'Rourke added, “Delighted to get it done. Fast time, did it professionally, everything is good.”
Unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Crude Velocity (Beau Liam) is the potential headliner for the upcoming GI Woody Stephens S. on the Belmont Stakes program at Saratoga. He defeated fellow 'Rising Star' Englishman (Maxfield) by 3 3/4 lengths in a highly anticipated showdown in the GII Pat Day Mile S. on the Kentucky Derby undercard.
“We haven't discussed where he'd go next yet, but as excited as I am about the horse, he'd have to run against those two horses that beat him if he steps up now and Englishman and Crude Velocity are gonna be coming back as well,” O'Rourke said. “So, it looks like a pretty tough division, you know?”
O'Rourke continued, “But he's a nice horse and he's going the right way. I would hope he'll get something nice accomplished before the end of the year.
He looks like a sprinter. He's an Into Mischief out of a Speightstown mare. He's a close-coupled, muscular horse.”
The Into Mischief x Speightstown cross is responsible for GISWs Mia Mischief and Mischevious Alex.
Juddmonte has campaigned two of the seven-time reigning champion general sire's most accomplished runners–the elevated 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun (Into Mischief) and the 2024 G1 Dubai World Cup winner Laurel River (Into Mischief).
“He's a real contributor to the breed,” O'Rourke said.
Deep Flame was produced by the maiden of four career starts Barbadia, a half-sister to G1 Prix de la Foret winner Etoile Montante (Miswaki). Obligatory (Curlin), winner of the 2022 GI Derby City Distaff S., appears under his second dam. This is also the extended female family of Juddmonte standouts Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation {GB}), Sightseek (Distant View), Special Duty (GB) (Hennessy) and Tates Creek (Rahy).
“We have a lot of pedigrees and families that have been exceptional, then they die out, but some of them come back,” O'Rourke said. “Definitely the Sightseek family is one that we're trying to keep alive. It was one of the great families, but you got to help them stay alive as well by breeding them to the best stallions.”
The @JuddmonteFarms homebred gets the lead at the top of the stretch with jockey @iradortiz piloting for trainer @bradcoxracing and rambles home to get the maiden breaking score done at Churchill Downs going 6f.#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/bKxCr349zb
— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) May 17, 2026
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