Spendthrift buys interest in Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile hopeful Mr Money

B Wayne Hughes’ Spendthrift Farm has acquired an ownership interest in four-time Graded stakes-winning millionaire Mr Money, who will make his next start in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Campaigned by Chester Thomas's Allied Racing Stable and trainer Bret Calhoun, the three-year-old colt is the leading earner from the first crop of Spendthrift stallion Goldencents, who himself was a two-time winner of the Dirt Mile.

Spendthrift general manager Ned Toffey said: “We're very excited to partner with Chester Thomas and his entire team on Mr Money, who we believe to be one of the most talented colts of this year’s three-year-old crop, with the potential of becoming a leading handicap horse in 2020.

“Obviously, we believe in the sire-line and know it very well. Mr Money is a fantastic physical representation of Goldencents and Into Mischief, and he has that tremendous desire to compete, which we’ve come to know from this sire-line. We think it’s only a matter of time before he gets his Grade 1 victory.”

An earner of $1,277,220 to date, Mr Money has reeled off four straight wins by open lengths in Graded stakes company this year.

He scored a runaway victory in the Pat Day Mile on Kentucky Derby day, drawing away from next-out Grade 1 winner Hog Creek Hustle by five and a quarter lengths.

He returned to Churchill a month later to win the Matt Winn by six and a half lengths.

In his next two starts Mr Money captured a pair of Derbies, first in the Indiana Derby at Indiana Grand where he defeated eventual Grade 1 winner Math Wizard among others by two and a half lengths, earning a career-high 100 Beyer. He then romped by six lengths in the West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer three weeks later.

Last time out, Mr Money was runner-up by a neck after leading throughout in the Pennsylvania Derby, finishing ahead of Preakness winner War Of Will and Grade 1 winner Improbable.

He breezed a half mile in 49.8 seconds in his final piece of major work for this week’s Dirt Mile at Churchill on Saturday.

Mr. Money is scheduled to fly to Santa Anita on Tuesday and long-term plans call for the colt to remain in training for a four-year-old campaign in 2020.

“We're excited to bring in Spendthrift as a partner on Mr Money,” said Thomas, who will remain the majority, managing owner on the colt.

“Mr Hughes and his team have a proven track record and we're thrilled to be in the Breeders’ Cup and have them with us.”

“Mr. Money has got better and better as the year’s gone on and continues to breeze sensationally. He’s coming into the Breeders’ Cup in top form,” said Calhoun. “We're really excited to see him face some of the top older horses in the country, and, hopefully, there’s a little extra luck on our side with his dad Goldencents being a two-time Dirt Mile winner at Santa Anita.

"We also have quite a bit of excitement about racing him as a four-year-old and think he can be one of the top older horses in the country next year.”

Bred by Spruce Lane Farm, Mr Money is out of the Tiznow mare Plenty O’Toole, a sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Well Armed.

He has a record of five wins and three seconds from 11 career starts to date.

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