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Japan-Based Into Mischief Colt Penciled In For Breeders' Cup Sprint

| 4:16 pm

Updated: October 6, 2025 at 4:18 pm

By Alan Carasso

Yoshizawa Holding Co. Ltd's American Stage (Into Mischief), who returned from a six-month layoff to just miss in a 1200-meter allowance at Kyoto Racecourse on Oct. 5, is being pointed for an appearance in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar on Saturday, Nov. 1, according to a report from the Netkeiba website in Japan.

A $500,000 Keeneland September yearling, the Spendthift Farm-bred 3-year-old colt posted a record of 3-2-1 from six juvenile appearances, including a three-race winning streak that culminated with a 3 1/2-length victory in his lone try on the grass at Chukyo last December.

Somewhat audaciously sent to Dubai over the winter, the bay was a creditable second to top sprinter Tuz (Oxbow) in the G3 Mahab Al Shimaal on the Super Saturday program at Meydan Mar. 1 and was a late invitee to the Apr. 5 G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, finishing sixth to Dark Saffron (Flameaway).

Making his first start since as the 9-10 favorite over the weekend, the Yoshito Yahagi trainee was ridden positively from the nine hole by Ryusei Sakai and set a pressured pace in advance of the 4-year-old filly Tagano Mist (Jpn) (Majestic Warrior) through strong fractions of :23.1 and :46.3. American Stage managed to put a length and a bit on Tagano Mist into the final furlong, but he was nabbed in the final couple of strides by his female rival and dropped a neck decision. The final time was a crisp 1:09.4 (video).

“If there's nothing wrong after the race, we'll head [to the U.S.],” Yahagi told Netkeiba.

Yahagi is a two-time winner at the Breeders' Cup, having upset the 2021 GI Distaff with Marche Lorraine (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) before saddling Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) at a much shorter price in the GI Filly & Mare Turf. Both wins came at Del Mar.

Sakai is the regular rider of Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), who will be one of the top three or four picks to improve on his third-place effort in last year's GI Classic behind his close relative, 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Sierra Leone (Gun Runner). Forever Young is campaigned by owner Susumu Fujita.