Mendelssohn (USA)
May 17, 2015 – Living
Scat Daddy (USA) x Leslie's Lady (USA), by Tricky Creek (USA)
Family 23-b
May 17, 2015 – Living
Scat Daddy (USA) x Leslie's Lady (USA), by Tricky Creek (USA)
Family 23-b
A member of the last crop sired by Scat Daddy and the third of three Grade 1 winners produced by 2016 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Leslie’s Lady, Mendelssohn combined his regal and highly fashionable pedigree with excellent conformation. Thus he surprised no one when he was the sales-topping yearling at the 2016 Keeneland September sale. Following a strong victory in the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (USA-G1), he seemed to have unlimited potential, but a 3-year-old campaign that seemed to lack any clear direction left many observers feeling dissatisfied and wondering what might have been with less quixotic handling.
Race record
13 starts, 4 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$2,542,092 (including converted English and Irish earnings)
2017:
2018:
As an individual
A deep-bodied, strongly-made bay horse in the mold of Scat Daddy, Mendelssohn appears slightly leggier than his late sire. He stands 16.1½ hands. At his best, he possessed a sharp burst of speed.
As a stallion
Mendelssohn entered stud in 2019 at Ashford Stud. His oldest foals are 4-year-olds of 2024.
Notable progeny
Dia de Otoño (CHI), Kin's Concerto (CAN)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Mendelssohn was bred by Clarkland Farm. At a price of US$3 million, he was the sale-topping yearling of the 2016 Keeneland September sale. He raced throughout his career for Coolmore associates Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, or Derrick Smith, sometimes with one of them listed individually as his owner and sometimes with two or all three of them in combination. He was trained by Aidan O’Brien and won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf under the handling of Ryan Moore. He entered stud in Kentucky in 2019 at Coolmore’s American operation, Ashford Stud. He also shuttled to Chile in 2020 and 2021.
Pedigree notes
Mendelssohn is inbred 4x5 to 1970 English Triple Crown winner Nijinsky II and 5x5 to Nijinsky II’s sire, the great stallion Northern Dancer. He is a half brother to four-time American champion Beholder (by Henny Hughes), dam of 2023 FanDuel Racing Del Mar Debutante Stakes (USA-G1) winner Tamara (by Bolt d’Oro) and 2023 Senorita Stakes (USA-G3) winner Teena Ella (by War Front). He is also a half brother to 2007 CashCall Futurity (USA-G1) winner and five-time American champion sire Into Mischief (by Harlan’s Holiday); to Daisy Mason (by Orientate), dam of stakes winner Harry's Holiday (by Harlan's Holiday); and to Leslie’s Harmony (by Curlin), dam of Saudi Arabian stakes winner Scotland Yard (by Quality Road).
Mendelssohn's dam Leslie's Lady won the listed Hoosier Debutante Stakes as a 2-year-old and was named the Kentucky Broodmare of the Year in 2016. She is a half sister to Colee Bear (by Wild Rush), dam of restricted stakes winner Fast Resource (by Bob and John). The next dam in Beholder's tail-female line, Crystal Lady (by Stop the Music) is a half sister to multiple restricted stakes winner Malcoha (by Afleet) and to open stakes winner Melanyhasthepapers (by Game Plan) as well as to stakes-placed One Last Colony (by Pleasant Colony), dam of listed stakes winner One Colony.
Crystal Lady, in turn, is out of stakes-placed One Last Bird (by One for All), a full sister to stakes producer Bravo All and a half sister to 1991 Californian Stakes (USA-G1) winner Roanoke (by Pleasant Colony) and stakes-placed Last Cause (by Caucasus), third dam of 2012 American champion 3-year-old male I'll Have Another. The female line traces back to the Cornish Prince mare Patelin, a modern foundation mare whose other descendants include 1991 American champion 2-year-old filly Pleasant Stage.
Books and media
Footage of Mendelssohn’s win in the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrQfJYLABY0.
Photo credit
Photo taken in 2019 at Ashford Stud by Tim Stephansen. Used by permission.
Last updated: August 4, 2024
Race record
13 starts, 4 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$2,542,092 (including converted English and Irish earnings)
2017:
- Won Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (USA-G1, 8FT, Del Mar)
- 2nd Dewhurst Stakes (ENG-G1, 7FT, Newmarket)
2018:
- Won UAE Derby (UAE-G2, Meydan)
- Won 32Red Patton Stakes (IRE-L, 8FA, Dundalk)
- 2nd Runhappy Travers Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Dwyer Stakes (USA-G3, 8FD, Belmont)
As an individual
A deep-bodied, strongly-made bay horse in the mold of Scat Daddy, Mendelssohn appears slightly leggier than his late sire. He stands 16.1½ hands. At his best, he possessed a sharp burst of speed.
As a stallion
Mendelssohn entered stud in 2019 at Ashford Stud. His oldest foals are 4-year-olds of 2024.
Notable progeny
Dia de Otoño (CHI), Kin's Concerto (CAN)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Mendelssohn was bred by Clarkland Farm. At a price of US$3 million, he was the sale-topping yearling of the 2016 Keeneland September sale. He raced throughout his career for Coolmore associates Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, or Derrick Smith, sometimes with one of them listed individually as his owner and sometimes with two or all three of them in combination. He was trained by Aidan O’Brien and won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf under the handling of Ryan Moore. He entered stud in Kentucky in 2019 at Coolmore’s American operation, Ashford Stud. He also shuttled to Chile in 2020 and 2021.
Pedigree notes
Mendelssohn is inbred 4x5 to 1970 English Triple Crown winner Nijinsky II and 5x5 to Nijinsky II’s sire, the great stallion Northern Dancer. He is a half brother to four-time American champion Beholder (by Henny Hughes), dam of 2023 FanDuel Racing Del Mar Debutante Stakes (USA-G1) winner Tamara (by Bolt d’Oro) and 2023 Senorita Stakes (USA-G3) winner Teena Ella (by War Front). He is also a half brother to 2007 CashCall Futurity (USA-G1) winner and five-time American champion sire Into Mischief (by Harlan’s Holiday); to Daisy Mason (by Orientate), dam of stakes winner Harry's Holiday (by Harlan's Holiday); and to Leslie’s Harmony (by Curlin), dam of Saudi Arabian stakes winner Scotland Yard (by Quality Road).
Mendelssohn's dam Leslie's Lady won the listed Hoosier Debutante Stakes as a 2-year-old and was named the Kentucky Broodmare of the Year in 2016. She is a half sister to Colee Bear (by Wild Rush), dam of restricted stakes winner Fast Resource (by Bob and John). The next dam in Beholder's tail-female line, Crystal Lady (by Stop the Music) is a half sister to multiple restricted stakes winner Malcoha (by Afleet) and to open stakes winner Melanyhasthepapers (by Game Plan) as well as to stakes-placed One Last Colony (by Pleasant Colony), dam of listed stakes winner One Colony.
Crystal Lady, in turn, is out of stakes-placed One Last Bird (by One for All), a full sister to stakes producer Bravo All and a half sister to 1991 Californian Stakes (USA-G1) winner Roanoke (by Pleasant Colony) and stakes-placed Last Cause (by Caucasus), third dam of 2012 American champion 3-year-old male I'll Have Another. The female line traces back to the Cornish Prince mare Patelin, a modern foundation mare whose other descendants include 1991 American champion 2-year-old filly Pleasant Stage.
Books and media
Footage of Mendelssohn’s win in the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrQfJYLABY0.
Photo credit
Photo taken in 2019 at Ashford Stud by Tim Stephansen. Used by permission.
Last updated: August 4, 2024