Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Intrepido

In recent years, the dominant sire (and grandsire) of Kentucky Derby (G1) winners has been Into Mischief.

Since 2020, Into Mischief has sired a record-equaling three Derby winners: Authentic (2020), Mandaloun (2021), and Sovereignty (2025). In addition, Into Mischief’s son Goldencents sired 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, which means Into Mischief is either the sire or grandsire of four of the last six Derby winners.

Perhaps Into Mischief’s sire line will strike again in the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1). His son Maximum Mischief is the sire of Intrepido, who unleashed a big late rally to win the American Pharoah (G1) on the 2025-26 Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Some pedigree handicappers might be skeptical of Maximus Mischief’s ability to emulate Goldencents and sire a Kentucky Derby winner. Although Maximus Mischief carried his speed over 1 1/8 miles to win the Remsen (G2), at stud, he’s proving to be a source of speed. So far, his top progeny include:

• Raging Torrent, winner of the one-mile Metropolitan H. (G1), seven-furlong Malibu (G2), 1,600-meter Godolphin Mile (G2), and seven-furlong Pat O’Brien (G2).
• Ms. Tart, winner of the 6 1/2-furlong Royal North (G3).
• Irish Maximus, conqueror of the seven-furlong Distaff (G3).
• Let Them Watch, winner of the Sandpiper S. and Sharp Susan S. sprinting six furlongs.
• Maximus Meridius, victorious in the seven-furlong Toboggan S.
• Baby Dukes, triumphant in the 1 1/16-mile City of Brotherly Love S.
• Glengarry, winner of the six-furlong Iowa Sprint S.
• Baby Max, star of the one-mile Leonatus S.
• Carmelina, winner of the six-furlong Unique Bella S.
• Regalo, winner of the one-mile Petramalo Mile S.

All told, the progeny of Maximus Mischief have compiled a highly sprint-oriented average winning distance of 6.3 furlongs, much lower than proven sires of classic winners like Curlin (7.7 furlongs) and Tapit (7.6 furlongs). Even Into Mischief, who sires plenty of sprinters and milers, sees his progeny win at an average distance of 6.8 furlongs.

But these facts don’t necessarily disqualify Maximus Mischief from siring a Kentucky Derby winner. Consider Goldencents mentioned above. A two-time Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner, Goldencents was at his best racing 1 1/8 miles or less, and his progeny win at an average distance of just 6.5 furlongs. Nevertheless, his son Mystik Dan lasted 1 1/4 miles to beat a strong field in the 150th Kentucky Derby.

Mystik Dan likely inherited some stamina from his female family. His dam, Ma’am, is a daughter of Colonel John, winner of the 1 1/4-mile Travers (G1).

This is a good sign for Intrepido, because he likewise boasts a strong female family to counterbalance the speed of Maximus Mischief.

Intrepido’s dam is Overly Indulgent, an unremarkable race mare who failed to win in five starts at the maiden claiming level. Her first two winning foals prior to Intrepido, including Intrepido’s full-sister Amy Z, were sprinters. But there’s actually a great deal of class and stamina in Overly Indulgent’s pedigree.

Overly Indulgent is a daughter of Pleasantly Perfect out of the Smart Strike mare Witternberg Miss. Pleasantly Perfect was a top-tier performer over the Kentucky Derby’s 1 1/4-mile distance, winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), Dubai World Cup (G1), and Pacific Classic (G1). At stud, he sired runners as wide-ranging as champion male sprinter Whitmore and 1 3/8-mile Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) winner Shared Account, but generally his progeny showed stamina, winning at an average distance of 7.5 furlongs.

Wittenberg Miss failed to win in two starts, and her record as a broodmare is modest, with the multiple stakes-placed sprinter/miler Bourbon Empire ranking as her top runner. But she brings Smart Strike into the mix, and that’s a positive when analyzing a potential Kentucky Derby pedigree.

Smart Strike was a talented racehorse best known for winning the 1 1/16-mile Philip H. Iselin H. (G1). Still, he achieved far greater renown as a stallion, siring two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, champion turf male English Channel, Preakness (G1) winner and two-time champion Lookin At Lucky, and a bevy of other elite runners.

Curlin won the Preakness, Breeders’ Cup Classic, and Dubai World Cup, and he’s the sire of Preakness winner and Kentucky Derby runner-up Exaggerator, Belmont (G1) hero Palace Malice, and Kentucky Derby runners-up Good Magic and Journalism.

Meanwhile, Lookin At Lucky is the sire of Kentucky Derby winner Country House, plus Horse of the Year and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Accelerate.

Smart Strike’s record as a broodmare sire is also worth highlighting. His daughters have foaled Kentucky Derby winners Mine That Bird and Rich Strike, as well as Preakness winner Seize the Grey and Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Dullahan.

The abundant classic stamina in the bottom half of Intrepido’s pedigree may balance the speed of Maximus Mischief and allow him to shine over 1 1/4 miles in the Kentucky Derby, much like fellow Into Mischief grandson Mystik Dan did in 2024.