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MORRISTON, FL—Pleasant Acres Stallions announced Jan. 18 the first reported foal for Chess Chief. The filly out of Dear Mama Mia, by Chitu was born Feb. 12 and is owned by Gail Caban.

“Our first Chess Chief filly is exceptional. Her size, substance and strength are all very correct and she moves effortlessly,” Pleasant Acres Stallions Director of Stallion Services Christine Jones said. “Just as we expected, Chess Chief is giving us total class and quality. We are thrilled to welcome her.” 

The foal’s first dam, Florida-bred Dear Mama Mia, was a winner as a 2-year-old. Her second dam, R Crown Royalty, by Wildcat Heir, was a winner in two starts as a 3-year-old. R Crown Royalty is dam of three foals, three to race, all winners. 

Graded stakes-winner Chess Chief is a son of Into Mischief out of Un Blessed, by Mineshaft and earned $931,319 from five wins in 39 starts with four seconds and five thirds. Un Blessed is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-producer Bonnie Byerly and stakes-producer Propriety.

During his sophomore year, Chess Chief was second in the Grade 3 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park and third in Remington Park’s Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby. In 2021 at age five, he won the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap and Listed Tenacious at Fair Grounds and was third in both the Grade 2 Alysheba presented by Sentient Jet at Churchill Downs and the Grade 3 Mineshaft at Fair Grounds. The following year he was third in the Listed Alydar at Saratoga Race Course.

Chess Chief stands at Pleasant Acres Stallions for a fee of $5,000 in 2025.

Return to the February 19 issue of Wire to Wire