Tommy Jo a New 'Rising Star' for Into Mischief at Saratoga
Updated: July 26, 2025 at 5:06 pm
Tommy Jo (f, 2, Into Mischief–Mother Mother, by Pioneerof the Nile) became the 53rd 'TDN Rising Star' for her out-of-this-world stallion Into Mischief with a powerful performance on debut at Saratoga Saturday.
Off as the 2-1 second choice, the Spendthrift Farm homebred was ridden along in fifth, hit the gas with a flashy, sweeping move on the far turn, opened daylight in the stretch and was hand ridden by John Velazquez to a facile 3 3/4-length victory over Tennesse Belle (Yaupon).
Tommy Jo's final time of 1:11.24 for six furlongs was faster than the 2-year-old male equivalent earlier on the program, won by $950,000 OBS March graduate Soldier N Diplomat (Army Mule), who stopped the timer for the same distance in 1:11.87.
Tommy Jo's dam Mother Mother, a fellow 'Rising Star' after a runaway debut win for Bob Baffert at Del Mar in the summer of 2018, was a two-time stakes winner and also hit the board in a trio of Grade I events. She brought $1.8 million from Spendthrift Farm at the 2020 FTKNOV sale. She was bred to Vekoma for 2026. Mother Mother is a half-sister to longshot GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Commanding Curve (Master Command).
Tommy Jo is bred on the same Into Mischief x Empire Maker cross as GI Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun, G1 Dubai World Cup winner Laurel River and the ill-fated, three-for-three multiple stakes winner Taraz. Both Mandaloun and Taraz were tabbed as 'TDN Rising Stars.'
7th-Saratoga, $100,000, Msw, 7-26, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:11.24, ft, 3 3/4 lengths.
TOMMY JO, 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
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $55,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart and VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
O/B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher.
💪 Tommy Jo dominates in R7 at Saratoga under @ljlmvel for trainer Todd Pletcher and owner/breeder @spendthriftfarm! pic.twitter.com/5osoqKeLWO
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) July 26, 2025